Daily Affirmations - Day 4 - Strength to Strength - The Lesser Known Paths

Day 4: The lesser known paths

He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths

[Jesus] must increase [in prominence] but I must decrease (John 3:30 - Amplified Bible). 

O Lord, although You are the exalted God over all, You have shown us what it is to be humble. And now, You ask us to follow Your example:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8).

But You know that humility does not come naturally to us. Your disciples are not immune to the temptation to pride, self-interest, and self-elevation. Yet Your words of correction and instruction call us to the values of a kingdom different from this world in mindset and perspective:

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves” (Luke 22:25-26).

Teach us Your ways, O Lord, for they are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Your ways are the lesser known paths of ruling by serving (Luke 22:27, John 13:12-15), of taking up by laying down (John 10:17), of increasing by decreasing (John 3:30). Your ways are the ways of strength in weakness, of triumph in surrender, of living in dying.

Lord Jesus, help us to willingly decrease so that You may increase, so that Your strength is our strength, so that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us not to stand in the pride that God opposes, but in the favor He shows to the humble (James 4:6).

Your kingdom principles often seem strange and absurd to a skewed and slanted world. But You have shown us by Your own mission, Your own example, and Your own life and death that humility comes before honor (Proverbs 18:12). You have shown us the trustworthiness of the promise Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift You up (James 4:10); and we see You now exalted above all:

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Lord, our God, You guide the humble in what is right, and You teach them Your way (Psalm 25:9). Thank You for making known to us the path of life (Psalm 16:11). Thank You that indeed, You are The Way (John 14:6). Help us to follow faithfully.

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