God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 (ESV)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave. Phil. 2:3-7 (NLT)
He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. John 3:30 (NLT)
Dear Lord Jesus, I want more of your grace, first and foremost, because I need more of your grace. As I meditate through these Scriptures, your beauty exposes my pride, stubbornness, and selfishness. Jesus, I am a proud man and it shows up the most in my world of relationships—with the people I live with, work with, and walk with. That doesn’t leave many people out of the loop.
But as much as I need more of your grace, Jesus, I want more of your grace for a far greater reason. I want to reveal your beauty, mercy and grace, wherever I am and wherever you send me. It grieves me greatly to know that, when I remain a proud man, when I refuse to humble myself, I lie about you and misrepresent you—I rob people of a glimpse and taste of who you truly are, Jesus.
Making you known isn’t a job I have (that’s the Spirit’s work), it’s a joy you’ve given me—one I take very seriously, Jesus. So grant me all the grace I need to think of others more highly than myself; to study their needs and interests; to celebrate their uniqueness and the image of God that is in them. Jesus, make me a servant-leader, a servant-spouse, a servant-dad, a servant-friend. You didn’t just wash my feet, but my heart—indeed, my whole being, Jesus. And you remain my servant-Lord—ever living to Advocate for me, love and serve me. Become greater and more beautiful in me, Jesus, and through me. So very Amen I pray, in your altogether beautiful name.