Daily Affirmations - Day 4 - In This Place - Posture of Humility

Day 4: Posture of humility

God resists the proud but shows favor to the humble

For this is what the high and exalted One says— He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite (Isaiah 57:15).

Lord God our Father, You formed the earth according to Your express purpose: For this is what the Lord says— He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— He says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other (Isaiah 45:18).

You know the inclinations of the human heart towards pride and rebellion. You know the deep desire to usurp Your rule and authority found in the spirit of humanity— in kings, princes, and paupers— as well as nations and kingdoms. And You remind us to recognize Your place as God, so that pride does not bring us destruction, and a haughty spirit, a terrible fall (Proverbs 16:18).

You have clearly said, "I am the Lord, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:18); still, many "shake their fists in Your face" and make themselves Your equal— dishonoring, disrespecting, denying You. Humanity dares to rise up and challenge "I AM."

From the plain in Shinar (Genesis 11), to the seat of earthly kingdoms, human resistance has thwarted Your authority with the vain, empty words, "I am, and there is none besides me" (Isaiah 47:8, Revelation 18:7). But You, Lord Almighty scoff at pride, and predict with full accuracy the downfall that it is to bring:

Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children”: These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments (Isaiah 47:8-9 - ESV).

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had already learned the painful lesson, Those who walk in pride [the King of Heaven] is able to humble (Daniel 4:37). Much later, the nation itself would be destroyed by its own pride, just as You had warned.

Lord! Forgive us! We too, have greatly offended You. In our schools, our churches, our markets, our businesses, our governments, we have flaunted the banner, "I am, and there is none besides me."

Creator God, The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it... But only those with pure hearts can enter Your holy place (Psalm 24:1- 4); only those with humble spirits can dwell with You (Isaiah 57:15).

Deliver us from deadly, destructive pride— the pride of unbelief and rebellion, of resisting Your will and Your way. Show us all the other areas of our lives where it creeps in, sneaks up, takes hold. Teach us the posture of true humility.

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