KNOWING GOD – A PRAYER TO “BE HUMBLE”

For the past few days we were looking at Henry Steele’s entry in his diary, which he made on 29 November in 1757, a good 268 years ago. It is a prayer for her daughter Anne Steele, who is gifted to write Christian songs. His prayer is a revelation about his heart, his attitude, his motives, his intentions, his understanding about God, life, and a reflection of the quality of his spiritual  maturity.
– “This day Nanny sent a part of her compositions to London to be printed. I entreat a gracious God, who enabled and stirred her up to such a work, to direct her in it, and to bless it for the good and comfort of many. I pray God to make it useful, and to keep her humble.” – Henry Steele’s journal

Thus far, we have looked at five different aspects from the above quote. Let us study these words, “…TO KEEP HER HUMBLE…” for our meditation this morning.

“…TO KEEP HER HUMBLE…”
In the above four words we see the heart of a father, and his deep love for his daughter’s safety, progress and being useful in the hands of the LORD her God, for His glory, and for the blessing of His people. All the rest of his prayer is on one side, this tiny bit, at the very end of his journal entry is on the other side. 

Henry Steele knows all to well what happens when a highly favoured individual does not keep their feet on the ground. They begin to drift in the glow of their God given talents. Unknown to them, if they don’t take remedial measures, they would soon be floating in the air, and in no time come crashing to the ground. This is the way of someone, who is filled and led by pride and arrogance in their life, about their talents and abilities. Such a person forgets God, who in the first place, is the One who gave those talents and abilities. Instead, they would install their own “golden calf” of self, where they begin to believe that, it is their own hard work, discipline and dedication that has brought all the fruits they are enjoying.
– “6…”God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6
– “23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.” – Proverbs 29:23
– “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” – Saint Augustine

Dear brothers and sisters, let us learn to be humble in our lives. Honestly speaking there is nothing in us to be proud and boastful about. 
– “Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is the first duty and the highest virtue of the creature, and the root of every virtue. And so pride, or the loss of this humility, is the root of every sin and evil.” – Andrew Murray

If we realise the wickedness and evil that resides in our hearts, we would not walk the path of pride. In fact, if we truly know our hearts, we will know that we are evil personified, in every sense of the word. Such a realisation is a must, even before God can begin His work of restoration in us. The LORD is willing, but are we will to humble ourselves and subject ourselves to the sovereignty and the lordship of our Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ?
– “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” – Andrew Murray

Let us pause and ponder. Even so, the LORD help us.