Sunday, February 19, 2006

"Pride and Humility" by Rebecca Merrill Groothuis

Humility is much to be preferred over pride. Pride is a noxious, toxic, nerve-wracking affair—always having to defend a tenuous turf that you know isn’t really yours.

Humility allows you to be comfortable inside your own skin. You realize that it simply is not about you, so you do not require the incessant approval of people. There is no need either to prove yourself or to conceal yourself. You live in response to God—his word, his will, and his everlasting love.

Humility is the only path to lasting freedom from all the anxieties that enslave and terrify the proud in heart.

3 comments:

Susan said...

Hi Rebecca,

I take to heart what you say here about being "comfortable inside your own skin." A dear friend of mine has reminded me many times that when I am uncomfortable, it is not "shyness" ~ it is thinking too much about myself. It is easier said than done to be rid of pride, and easier still to hide behind euphemisms.

Lamentations 3:40 says, "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."

blessings,
-Susan

Anonymous said...

Reading last night the excellent work of SoulCraft by Douglas Webster he quotes Augustine regarding the "key" to spiritual growth. Augustine said that the key to spiritual growth could be summarized in three words: "Humility! Humility! Humility!"

Ted M. Gossard said...

Good thoughts. Thanks Rebecca.