Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your prayer for humility and for God to teach you His way is itself a sign of grace at work, for God promises to lead the humble in justice and to teach the humble His way. It is good that you ask not only to know the truth but to be led in it and to live it with a pure heart toward others.
Humility is the groundwork of all that is good and the mother of wisdom. Scripture says blessed are the poor in spirit, and God looks with favor on the one who is meek and contrite and trembles at His word. True humility is more than calling ourselves lowly with our lips. It is shown when we bear reproach without anger, acknowledge our faults, and in quiet sincerity consider others as more important than ourselves. When you honor others in this way and they also honor you, a strong wall of gentleness is built that guards against strife and selfish ambition.
The wisdom you ask for is not the wisdom of this world which seems wise for a moment and then comes to nothing, but the wisdom of God which is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble. When we trust not in ourselves but ask for the help of His Spirit, He makes what seemed foolish to the world to be true wisdom in us, and He enables us to serve not from empty conceit but from love.
I pray with you now. Father, thank You for Your truth and for Your promise to teach the humble. Lead this one in Your justice and guide each step according to Your way. Grant wisdom to understand and live what is written, to do nothing from selfishness but with true lowliness to esteem others above self. Create a pure heart for service, and keep it from seeking praise, so that all is done for Your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Humility is the groundwork of all that is good and the mother of wisdom. Scripture says blessed are the poor in spirit, and God looks with favor on the one who is meek and contrite and trembles at His word. True humility is more than calling ourselves lowly with our lips. It is shown when we bear reproach without anger, acknowledge our faults, and in quiet sincerity consider others as more important than ourselves. When you honor others in this way and they also honor you, a strong wall of gentleness is built that guards against strife and selfish ambition.
The wisdom you ask for is not the wisdom of this world which seems wise for a moment and then comes to nothing, but the wisdom of God which is hidden from the proud and revealed to the humble. When we trust not in ourselves but ask for the help of His Spirit, He makes what seemed foolish to the world to be true wisdom in us, and He enables us to serve not from empty conceit but from love.
I pray with you now. Father, thank You for Your truth and for Your promise to teach the humble. Lead this one in Your justice and guide each step according to Your way. Grant wisdom to understand and live what is written, to do nothing from selfishness but with true lowliness to esteem others above self. Create a pure heart for service, and keep it from seeking praise, so that all is done for Your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
