“I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet, so you also should wash each other’s feet.” John 13:14 (ERV)

This is a question I answer much differently these days. While I used to think it was just someone who helped others, I now know it is much deeper than that. When we begin the spiritual journey God has called us to, we look at things with different eyes. We realize things are not always what they seem. We pierce the surface and find depth.

What does a humble servant look like to you?

Is it simply someone who serves others, or is it deeper? In the Bible, the word “humble” is used 124 times (Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Humble). What does it mean though? Here are my thoughts:

When I ask the Lord to “humble” me, I ask Him to show me where I can serve each day. I ask Him to show me how to be more like Jesus Christ. I ask him to show me how to go out into the world and be someone that shines. I ask him to use me to help others form a relationship with Him. While I don’t wash feet per se, I do live to serve. When we serve others, it releases endorphins. It makes us “feel good.” So why is it many of us are too prideful to serve?

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Becoming humble means letting go of pride. It means we allow ourselves to be led into a righteous lifestyle without shame or guilt. We learn to become new. We learn to grow spiritually. We learn to have faith. We learn to stop operating in fear of “what others will think of us.” As we become humble, we drop our selfish ways and help others in need. We appreciate the time we have. We encourage and support others to win. We become their biggest cheerleaders. We become the person we were always meant to be just by simply letting go of the old in order to bring in the new.

According to Meriam-Webster, “humble” means “not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive.” It means we are willing to surrender and be the better person (apologize). It means we diminish any power or independence and give the glory to something more. It means we don’t take credit for anything. It means we become who we are through what we are given. We don’t glorify man or ourselves, but we glorify the Holy Spirit which dwells within us. I used to think I was humble, but I was nowhere near it. I helped others, but I still had a lot of pride. We can’t be humble and proud at the same time. We have to be willing to let one go to obtain the other. We must examine ourselves thoroughly. Are we truly willing to encounter the world on a massive level or do we want to just stay where we are.

I used to wonder why many Christians seemed to have this amazing life. It’s not the current life, but what led them to where they are now. Most of us aren’t willing to read the backstory. We only see what we see. We don’t see the blood, sweat, and tears that had to be shed for the call to prosper. Being humble means we are willing to put everything down for a greater cause. It means sacrifice. It means we go out into the world and have a different glow about us. It means we become who we are meant to be, not by our own will, but through the will of God.

I recently wrote the following: We must be willing to humble ourselves and admit our wrongs. If we have any ounce of pride, we will not have the ability to get closer to God. We will constantly be stuck in a trap, where we are more of this world than we are of the Kingdom God has for us. True freedom comes from submission. We must be willing to submit our own lives, wants, and daily actions to God. We must be willing to ask Him for wisdom. We must be willing to submit our pride in order to receive what he has for us. We must be willing to truly be humble in the midst of wanting to control it all. The adventure begins when we release control and learn to trust Him and those He has sent to us.

I am a testimony to this and so are many others I have met in this journey of peace and grace. When I was prideful, everything I worked for came crashing down. When people send me praises now, I thank them, but give the glory to God. It was not something I did at first. Just as anything else, it took practice. It took the willingness to remember it was not through my will but through my relationship with our Lord and His will. We can easily fall into traps when we are surrounded by people who are unwilling to face that we are not in control. We must continue to be a source for them as well. Being humble takes away any judgment and leads us in a direction of being able to really show up for ourselves and those around us.

If you are struggling in any area of your life at this time, I encourage you to bring forward any pride and lay it all down at the altar. The altar doesn’t have to be at church. My altar was my dining room floor the first time I fell to my knees and prayed, asking God to come into my life. Sometimes, the altar is on my office floor. The altar is wherever you need it to be. Don’t worry about anything or anyone else. Release yourself and remember, a humble servant is one that is willing to show up. Showing up is always the first step. Everything else becomes a process. Keep yourself around people who support, encourage, and empower you. Allow yourself to be naturally led to those people. Remove others from your life. We can’t progress if we continue to be pulled backwards. Focus on what is in front of you, not what is behind. Read the scriptures. Learn them. Apply them. You will one day see the more you humble yourself, the more you will also have prosperity and fulfilment in life. If you are lacking fulfillment, you may have too much pride. Become aware of the pitfalls. This is the only way to truly be free.

“But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.” - Psalms 37:11