Embracing Humility: Finding Rest in God's Love

Devotional

Day 1: The Path of Humility

Humility allows us to recognize our limitations and depend on God, who alone can fulfill our deepest yearnings. Pride often leads us to grasp for things beyond our reach, resulting in exhaustion and alienation. Psalm 131 beautifully illustrates how humility and trust in God can lead us to a place of calm and quiet. The psalmist finds peace and contentment in God's presence, much like a weaned child resting with its mother. This metaphor captures the essence of humility—acknowledging our dependence on God and finding rest in His love. [34:07]

Psalm 131:1-2 (ESV): "O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you have been striving beyond your limits. How can you practice humility by acknowledging your dependence on God in this area today?

Day 2: Jesus' Example of Humility

Jesus exemplified humility by choosing to serve and love others, even to the point of death on a cross. His life teaches us that true greatness is found in humility and service. By following His example, we can experience a deeper, more fulfilling life. Jesus' humility was not just an attitude but a way of life that involved self-sacrifice and putting others before Himself. This radical approach to life challenges us to rethink our own definitions of greatness and success. [58:23]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV): "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: Identify one way you can serve someone in your life today, following Jesus' example of humility and self-sacrifice.

Day 3: The Role of Worship

Worship is more than singing songs; it is about reordering our desires and aligning our hearts with God's. Through worship, we can experience God's presence and find rest for our souls. Worship helps us to acknowledge our need for God and to receive His encouragement and strength. It is a practice that reorients our focus from ourselves to God, allowing us to experience His peace and guidance in our lives. [01:04:32]

Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice."

Reflection: How can you incorporate a moment of worship into your day today, beyond just singing, to realign your heart with God's?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Love

Our deepest needs are met in God's love when we are willing to meet Him with humility. The psalmist's metaphor of a weaned child resting with its mother captures the peace and contentment found in God's presence. Trusting in God's love allows us to experience true rest and fulfillment. This trust is not passive but an active choice to rely on God's love and provision, even when circumstances are challenging. [42:47]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's love? How can you actively choose to trust Him in this area today?

Day 5: Living in the Present

We are often so focused on the future that we forget to live in the present. Embracing humility and trusting in God allows us to experience His presence in the here and now. By doing so, we can find joy and fulfillment in the ordinary moments of life. Living in the present means being fully engaged with where God has placed us, finding His blessings in the everyday and trusting Him with our future. [51:29]

Matthew 6:34 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Reflection: What is one ordinary moment today where you can pause and recognize God's presence? How can this practice help you live more fully in the present?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound themes of humility, pride, and the deep rest that comes from trusting in God. We began by reflecting on the humbling experiences in our lives, recognizing that pride often leads us down paths of exhaustion and alienation. Psalm 131 served as our anchor, illustrating how humility and trust in God can lead us to a place of calm and quiet. The psalmist's words remind us that our deepest needs are met in God's love when we are willing to meet Him with humility.

We delved into the concept of pride, understanding that it often drives us to grasp for things beyond our reach, leading to disappointment and a sense of emptiness. In contrast, humility allows us to recognize our limitations and depend on God, who alone can fulfill our deepest yearnings. The psalmist's metaphor of a weaned child resting with its mother beautifully captures the peace and contentment found in God's presence.

We also examined how Jesus exemplified humility, choosing to serve and love others, even to the point of death on a cross. His life teaches us that true greatness is found in humility and service. By following His example, we can experience a deeper, more fulfilling life.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of worship as a means to cultivate trust and desire for God. Worship is not just about singing songs but about reordering our desires and aligning our hearts with God's. It is through worship that we can experience God's presence and find rest for our souls.

In conclusion, we are invited to embrace humility, trust in God's love, and find our true home in Him. By doing so, we can experience the peace and fulfillment that only He can provide.

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Key Takeaways

1. **Humility vs. Pride**: Pride often leads us to grasp for things beyond our reach, resulting in exhaustion and alienation. In contrast, humility allows us to recognize our limitations and depend on God, who alone can fulfill our deepest yearnings. This humility is beautifully illustrated in Psalm 131, where the psalmist finds peace and contentment in God's presence. [34:07]
2. Jesus' Example of Humility: Jesus exemplified humility by choosing to serve and love others, even to the point of death on a cross. His life teaches us that true greatness is found in humility and service. By following His example, we can experience a deeper, more fulfilling life. [58:23]
3. The Role of Worship: Worship is more than singing songs; it is about reordering our desires and aligning our hearts with God's. Through worship, we can experience God's presence and find rest for our souls. Worship helps us to acknowledge our need for God and to receive His encouragement and strength. [64:32]
4. Trusting in God's Love: Our deepest needs are met in God's love when we are willing to meet Him with humility. The psalmist's metaphor of a weaned child resting with its mother captures the peace and contentment found in God's presence. Trusting in God's love allows us to experience true rest and fulfillment. [42:47]
5. Living in the Present: We are often so focused on the future that we forget to live in the present. Embracing humility and trusting in God allows us to experience His presence in the here and now. By doing so, we can find joy and fulfillment in the ordinary moments of life. [51:29]
### [51:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:15] - Discovering Unexpected Friendships
[30:23] - Introduction and Prayer
[31:46] - The Question of Humility
[32:21] - Humbling Experiences
[34:07] - The Path of Humility
[35:04] - Understanding Psalm 131
[36:20] - The Dangers of Pride
[38:33] - The Cost of Greatness
[41:03] - Jesus' Teaching on Humility
[42:47] - The Metaphor of a Weaned Child
[45:28] - The Science of Rest and Anxiety
[49:07] - The Importance of Recognizing Limitations
[51:29] - Living in the Present
[57:59] - Jesus' Example of Humility
[64:32] - The Role of Worship
[69:09] - Synchronizing Our Hearts in Worship
[70:58] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does the psalmist mean when he says, "my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high"? How does this reflect an attitude of humility? ([35:04])
In Psalm 131, the psalmist uses the metaphor of a weaned child resting with its mother. What does this metaphor suggest about our relationship with God? ([41:55])
How does the sermon describe the consequences of pride, and what are some examples given? ([38:19])
According to the sermon, how did Jesus exemplify humility, and what can we learn from His example? ([57:59])

Interpretation Questions

Why does the psalmist emphasize not occupying oneself with "things too great and too marvelous"? How does this relate to the concept of humility discussed in the sermon? ([35:19])
How does the metaphor of a weaned child help us understand the peace and contentment found in God's presence? What does this say about our need for dependence on God? ([41:55])
The sermon mentions that pride leads to exhaustion and alienation. How does this align with the psalmist's call to calm and quiet one's soul? ([38:19])
How does Jesus' humility, as described in Philippians 2, challenge our own understanding of greatness and service? ([57:59])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when pride led you to exhaustion or disappointment. How can you approach similar situations with humility in the future? ([38:19])
The psalmist describes a weaned child resting with its mother as a metaphor for our relationship with God. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of trust and rest in God's presence this week? ([41:55])
Jesus exemplified humility by serving others, even to the point of death. What are some practical ways you can serve others in your community, following His example? ([57:59])
Worship is described as reordering our desires and aligning our hearts with God's. How can you make worship a more integral part of your daily life, beyond just singing songs? ([01:04:32])
The sermon discusses the importance of living in the present and finding joy in ordinary moments. What are some ordinary moments in your life where you can practice being more present and grateful? ([51:29])
How can you identify and let go of ambitions that are driven by pride rather than a genuine desire to serve God? ([36:20])
The sermon invites us to embrace humility and trust in God's love. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your trust in God and experience His peace? ([42:47])

Sermon Clips

1. "The thing I want us to think about today that I believe this passage points out very clearly for us is that our deepest needs are really and fully met in the love of God where and when we are willing to meet him. And that's not a catch, right? Like I'm going to meet your needs if you come to me. It's an invitation that Jesus shows us clearly and scripture provides for us over and over and over." [34:07] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Pride is the desire to grasp things that aren't ours to carry or to achieve. Psalm 86:10, talking about great things, says, 'For you are great,' talking to God, 'and you do wondrous things; you alone are God.' It's the same language of Psalm 131: those great and marvelous things, they're God's alone to accomplish. And the psalmist, in humility, turns 86:11, 'Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.'" [36:51] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we're chasing greatness that isn't ours to earn, we can convince ourselves that any price is worth paying. But disappointment inevitably sets in. Sometimes that's in the valley, right, where you realize, like, oh, I can't hold all these things together. But sometimes it's on the mountaintop too, or at least the mountain you thought you needed to be at. You turn around and you're the only one there. Pride leads to alienation, exhaustion, disappointment." [38:03] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The calling that you walk out, whatever that might be, and it doesn't have to be vocational ministry, it requires repentance. Repentance which is a regular turning to God, a regular trusting that God's way is better. If not, we begin to drift from good work to untenable ambition. Think about your own life. Like, what do you do for work? How do you define community? What are you hoping for in life? Do all these things rest on your shoulders to be fulfilled?" [39:45] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The danger though is believing that you and I have the capacity to create a life that is fulfilling or purposeful apart from God. And it's not even the kind of thing that we can invite God into. It's the kind of thing that we can only go to God for. This idea of self-creation, it works against the reality of our hearts. The issue of pride is that it creates a new center of gravity for our lives, and that center can't hold." [44:16] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We don't approach raising our kids that way, and yet when it comes to our spirituality, we think it's okay to operate that way. Like, I'm gonna self-pace what it means to grow. I'm gonna self-pace, I'm gonna put together a plan for my growth completely on my own and then ask God to enter it. And then we're surprised when we end up with the spiritual equivalent of tooth decay or diabetes." [49:07] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Think about so many passages in scripture. Micah 6:8, 'He's told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you?' Look at what it says. Think of how this squares with the ambition we often accept in our lives. What does he require? 'To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with your God.' The question we should be asking after reading something like that is, does that sound like enough to us? Do we trust that what the Lord calls good is actually good for us?" [50:28] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When you think of the opposite of pride, it's humility. And there was no one who experienced greater humility than Jesus. Philippians 2 tells us this: 'Let the sin of pride be cast aside. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.'" [57:59] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We receive our truest selves when we're humble enough to be with God and call that home, to return to him and to receive a proper perspective, right order of responsibilities. Proverbs 3 says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes, but fear the Lord and turn away from evil.' And I love this verse, it's such a promise: 'It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.'" [03:04] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Worship is a vigorous act of reimagination, of reordering our desires in light of God's burning desire for the wellness of all creation. In song and prayer, we articulate holy desires, although we may not yet feel them in our bones. We repent of unholy desires that are still eating away at us and through us, eating at others. We are not yet wise, but we take the responsibility to part in worship so that through scripture we may study what God desires for this groaning yet grace-filled world, and in prayer we may grow and change until we burn with like desire." [04:52] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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