humility

The Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen recently shared an inspiring testimony of God's faithfulness throughout his life and NHL career.

Americans have become increasingly cynical about the government, and in trusting each other, actor Harry Lennix told CBN’s Faithwire.

He also asserted that the “real issue” society is facing is “the cynicism of modernity.” A worldview that he says is founded on the “insistence that there be an abdication of God, denial of God in the name of whatever this is, the New Age, the computer age, of intelligence, of our own humanism.”

The fallenness of humanity is the primary reason I believe in democracy. It is why I believe America should support democracy wherever and however we can. However, my commitment to democracy contains the seeds of its own destruction: if one person cannot be trusted to rule others, ipso facto, a collective of people cannot be trusted to rule themselves.

Remove pride and judgmentalism by humbling yourself (Matt. 7:5). Pride says, "The faults in others I can easily see, but praise God there's none in me." Ask, "Is this really something I need to address, or am I mad because my pride has been hurt?" Next, take your thoughts captive and err on the side of grace as you apply wisdom to the situation. Although not every conflict will be resolved, these biblical principles will tilt the odds in your favor. Be encouraged: God sees your heart and will reward you based on your actions, not the actions of the other person. You can't change them, but you can change yourself.

It is my firm belief that arrogance in the church is preventing a mighty downpour of God's Spirit. We need the blessing of brokenness like never before. The disciples had to be crushed like olives so the anointing oil could flow.

Many in our secular culture caricature Christians as weak. Friedrich Nietzsche warned that faith in God would keep us from becoming the “overcomers” we could and should be. Karl Marx taught that religion is the “opiate” of the masses subjugating them to their masters. “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,” is the way many people see our Savior.

But those who know Him know better.

Our society needs people characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But these are the “fruit” of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not the product of self-reliant effort. They are the result of being “filled” or controlled each day by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18).

The anxiety of this crisis may well be a catalyst for the spiritual renewal we need so urgently.

As the saying goes, sometimes we need to get so far down that we have nowhere to look but up. Such humility is the foundational step to the spiritual awakening we need so urgently today.