The Heart of Humility: Approaching God in True Dependence
Dan. 9:18b: "...we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies."
We need to be sure to stay humble at all times; especially when we approach God’s throne in prayer. In essence, Daniel is praying, “God, we are asking for your help, not because we deserve it, but because we need it, and because we know that you care for us.” Could there be a place in the Christian’s journey where he or she begins to think that God should do this or that for them because they have done this or that for Him?
I am a firm believer that God has a rewards program that’s out of this world, but I also believe that maintaining humility by remembering where God brought us from is truly the only way to either obtain or enjoy those rewards. Before one might come to the conclusion that God “owes” him something, he should consider that God has already given us His Son! From that perspective, what more could we possibly expect of God? I mean, after He has given us everything, there is nothing else left to give.
It is sad that this world’s system avoids God like the plague, and when referencing His Holy name, it’s usually done so in vain. It is as if this world thinks that God is the worst thing that could happen to them. Furthermore, for a world that hates God so much, they sure do place a lot of selfish demands and expectations on Him! Sadly, I witness first hand a good number of people who will curse God in one breath, and then ask Him for a favor in the next. If anyone should have leverage and place expectations, it should be God!
God doesn’t ‘owe’ us anything! Furthermore, were it not for His goodness and grace, we would all be in the eternal flames of Hell right now. It is therefore necessary to resist the religious notions that somehow we deserve special treatment from our Heavenly Father. God is looking for a broken and a contrite spirit; a man or a woman who knows how unworthy they are, and how worthy the Lamb of God is! We might be praying, “God, don’t you remember all the sacrifices I’ve made for you.” When we should be praying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” If we will stay humble, then the sky is the limit to what God can do for us.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
We need to be sure to stay humble at all times; especially when we approach God’s throne in prayer. In essence, Daniel is praying, “God, we are asking for your help, not because we deserve it, but because we need it, and because we know that you care for us.” Could there be a place in the Christian’s journey where he or she begins to think that God should do this or that for them because they have done this or that for Him?
I am a firm believer that God has a rewards program that’s out of this world, but I also believe that maintaining humility by remembering where God brought us from is truly the only way to either obtain or enjoy those rewards. Before one might come to the conclusion that God “owes” him something, he should consider that God has already given us His Son! From that perspective, what more could we possibly expect of God? I mean, after He has given us everything, there is nothing else left to give.
It is sad that this world’s system avoids God like the plague, and when referencing His Holy name, it’s usually done so in vain. It is as if this world thinks that God is the worst thing that could happen to them. Furthermore, for a world that hates God so much, they sure do place a lot of selfish demands and expectations on Him! Sadly, I witness first hand a good number of people who will curse God in one breath, and then ask Him for a favor in the next. If anyone should have leverage and place expectations, it should be God!
God doesn’t ‘owe’ us anything! Furthermore, were it not for His goodness and grace, we would all be in the eternal flames of Hell right now. It is therefore necessary to resist the religious notions that somehow we deserve special treatment from our Heavenly Father. God is looking for a broken and a contrite spirit; a man or a woman who knows how unworthy they are, and how worthy the Lamb of God is! We might be praying, “God, don’t you remember all the sacrifices I’ve made for you.” When we should be praying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” If we will stay humble, then the sky is the limit to what God can do for us.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill