HUMILITY: The catalyst of freedom

I used to think humility meant putting myself down—acting small, thinking less of myself, or never speaking up. But real humility isn’t about becoming invisible to the world—it’s about becoming surrendered to God. It’s not about thinking less of myself—it’s about thinking of myself less, and thinking of God and His people more.

Pride is sneaky. It doesn’t always roar brazenly—sometimes it whispers with a false meekness. It shows up as defensiveness when someone corrects me, or resistance when truth makes me uncomfortable. But here’s the hard truth: If truth offends me, pride is still on the throne of my heart and the prominent influencer of my life.

Jesus told a story about two men who came to pray. One exalted himself. The other humbled himself. Only one left justified. Why? Because the one who humbled himself made room for God. That’s what humility does—it clears the clutter of ego so the grace of God can flow.

Recovery doesn’t work without humility. It’s the starting point—and the staying point. Without humility, we justify our sin. With humility, we grieve over sin—and let God change us.

God doesn’t shame us into submission. He calls us into transformation. And the path of life always begins with humility.

Walk well.

POLRis4Me

POLR Truth:

Humility isn’t self-pity—it’s surrender. And surrender is the opening of the door to real recovery.

Scripture Reflection:

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14 NIV)

In this parable, Jesus doesn’t just expose the pride of the Pharisee—He honors the brokenness of the tax collector. Why? Because God doesn’t respond to our spiritual resumes—He responds to our repentance.

The humble man didn’t bring a list of religious deeds. He brought a broken heart. And that was enough to move the heart of God.

This verse reminds us: Elevation comes after humiliation—when we choose it, not when we fake it. God lifts the lowly. He resists the proud. If we want to go forward, we must first go lower.

Discussion/Journal Prompt:

Where is pride still resisting the truth in your life? What would it look like for you to humble yourself today—not by trying to feel low, but by choosing to surrender and respond?

Key Scriptures for Further Study:

• Matthew 23:12

• Proverbs 11:2 (AMP)

• Luke 18:9–14

• James 4:6

• Psalm 34:18

• 1 Peter 5:6