Humility

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. [Daniel 10.12]

The word that stands out to me today in the verse above is "humble."

It had been twenty-one days that Daniel had been praying for understanding AND humbling himself before God.

I think most of us struggle to humble ourselves for anything more than twenty-one minutes - or worse, twenty-one seconds!

The problem as I see it today is that we have so rejected the notion of "condemnation" that we have ultimately rejected humility along with it.

Let me say it another way: We have become so obsessed with avoiding condemnation that we have become proud in so doing.

I must confess that through the years of my walk with God and exposure to teachings about "no condemnation" I have witnessed pure spiritual pride on many occasions. It is no wonder then, that we see so very little 'kingdom activity' in and around our lives.

There is one verse in the Bible that says: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. [Romans 8.1] and scores of people have therefore excused their actions of spiritual pride and arrogance. No consideration is given to the repeated warnings throughout the entire Bible against pride!

And we wonder why we don't see the manifest power of God...

Father, forgive me for pride and arrogance in my life. Forgive me for not dedicating real and meaningful time to genuine repentance and humility.