Prayer for Humility

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Pax Pres, and to all people,

This week, I offer a prayer for humility to help us start the season of Lent well together.
Humbly in Christ,
Pastor Matt


Almighty God, try as we might to be your humble disciples, everything in culture and in our own hearts tugs at us to be self-assured and boastful.

God, as we begin the season of Lent approaching the remembrance of Jesus’ final days before His crucifixion and resurrection, we need to be humbled again. Whether we like admitting it or not, Ash Wednesday reminds us that you created us from the dust of the earth, and to the dust we will one day return. Although you offered us your Son Jesus to promise so much more beyond the grave, God, we are still humbled to remember that we are simply and totally human.

God, in the Lenten season of preparation for Easter, remind us of what true Christ-centered humility is. As others have said better than us, God, humility is certainly not thinking more of ourselves. But neither is it thinking less of ourselves. Rightly practiced, God, humility is us thinking of ourselves less. (C.S. Lewis; Tim Keller)

God, we pray for those among us who naturally tend toward self-loathing and despair. God, for those who need that broken, debilitating spin on humility restored in them, restore them with the loving, saving, healing words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28-30)  I see a self-pitying downward spiral in myself at times, God, and I pray for those who need your Holy Spirit to fill them with a more grace-filled humility.

God, we pray for those among us who naturally tend toward self-assurance, even cockiness and arrogance. Years’ worth of certain skills, experiences, wisdom, and more fill us with a desire to say, “Look at me, God!” “Look at me, everyone!” We may not shout it from the rooftops, God. But you, God, hear our inner voice all too clear, and you want to firmly but lovingly humble us. Whatever it is that tempts each of us to boast in ourselves, God, yank us back down to the foot of the cross of Christ, so that we boast in nothing but Him and Him crucified. 

God, our cultural and societal conversations encourage us to form a half-informed opinion and stand strong no matter what. Father, we give thanks that in Christ you renew our source of all wisdom and knowledge, and belief in Jesus Christ can indeed fill us with strong convictions about good ethics, justice, and more. But God, no matter our convictions and opinions, keep us humble in how we speak, post on social media, and more. God, you see my tendencies when I read a news story that causes indignation at the injustice, sin, or criminal behavior of others. God, you know I need even my “righteous” thoughts tempered with the righteous humility of Jesus, who though He is God, did not consider equality with God something to be considered. Fill me - fill all of us - with the humility of Christ, who became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2)  Likewise, God, when I get overly consumed with the sins of others, shine your rebuking but healing light on my unconfessed sin. Kindle in me, in us, godly repentance because we know the everlasting mercy of Christ stands ready to meet us.

As we walk each day toward your betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, Jesus, show us how to treat ourselves and to treat others with that kind of Christ-like humility. (Col. 3:12-13) Clothe us with it everyday. Wrap us so fully in Christ’s humility that even our firm or corrective words to a child, a family member, a co-worker, or a friend are noticeably covered in Christ. Make us more ready to repent and seek forgiveness wherever it is needed. Make us more ready to offer forgiveness to those who’ve wronged us in small ways or in severe ways.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make us more humble every single day - not only from Ash Wednesday to Easter, but every day until the day of Christ’s return. 

Amen.