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Blessed Are the Meek...Are You?
What is meekness? And why is it that blessed are the meek? Meekness is a lot of things, but one thing it’s not is…
I don’t really recall ever hearing my dad yell at me or my three siblings while growing up. Sure, he was stern and authoritative when he needed to discipline us, but I don’t remember him ever flying off the handle. I’ve always had a deep respect for my dad, a respect that led me to never want to disappoint him— not out of fear, but because he doesn’t deserve to be disappointed. He displayed and communicated right from wrong to us as children, constantly went out of his way to do what needed to be done for all of us (and my mom), and didn’t retaliate, fight back, or try to get even if someone ever had a problem with him.
And he’s still this way today. Soft-spoken, kind, and I honestly can’t think of one person in this world who doesn’t like him.
Do you know anyone like that? Someone who you can describe in one, powerful word: meek.
“Meekness is weakness.” You may have heard that saying before. Or, perhaps no one has said those exact words to you, but you've got the vibe that that's the general consensus of our culture.
In today’s world, a meek and gentle spirit is often mistaken for weakness. A lack of strength. Powerless. Even, being a push-over. We're told to be strong, show everyone how much of an independent woman we are, and how we “don't need anybody.” Use our words, actions, and body language to exert power and force; take control, they say.
But is this the most effective behavior? I mean, sure, it gets the job done. People respond to fear, so if they're afraid of the big, strong woman you are— of course, you can make them do almost anything you want.
But, as a woman set apart for the Lord is this the life He calls you to?
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WHAT IS MEEKNESS?
Meekness is the willingness to suffer injury or insult rather than be the one to inflict those insults on others. It produces a mildness in our demeanor and humility in our spirit. Meekness does not grasp for ways to overpower others or seek to be overbearing. There is a gentle, somewhat submissive quality to a person who is meek.
If you’ve been following our Godly Woman Wardrobe series, you know that meekness is the 4th character trait we are to put on according to Colossians 3:12-14.
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ”
When we are meek, even if our natural personality tends to be on the stronger side, we choose to yield that powerfulness and instead speak and behave with gentleness for the benefit of others.
Meekness is strength under control.
It’s like what Paul urged the church of Ephesus— to display a lowliness and gentleness; to have patience and bear with one another in love. This is meekness and a worthy way of walking out our faith (Ephesians 4:1-2).
MEEKNESS IN THE BIBLE
Of course, like any good thing in life, we need to look no further than Jesus for our example of meekness. The Son of God, who left His place in heaven in order to come down and dwell among us, had every right to use His almighty power as He interacted with people. He was questioned, religious leaders tried to deceive Him, and He was provoked. Yet, He always responded with a meekness, never putting the full weight of His power at the forefront.
He showed His strength in teaching the truth, not in starting arguments. He was bold enough to confront wrong behavior in people, yet gentle enough not to strike them down. Those in His presence felt the weight of His authority (Mark 1:21-22), but He didn’t lord it over them. He came to earth for the people— for us— not to put His deity on display.
In 2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul, as he prepares to share some hard things with the readers of his epistle, urges the Corinthians “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” He desires to boldly share the tough, necessary things they need to hear in a gentle, strength-controlled manner— just as Jesus did.
Even Paul’s personality seemed to reflect a meekness, as, in the same verse, he goes on to say that he was meek when physically in their presence, but bold in his writings to them. Perhaps they thought he was hypocritical or two-faced. Or perhaps— they just didn’t quite understand what true meekness looked like.
Going back even further in time, we meet Moses, whom Numbers 12:3 says was very meek (or humble; or lowly), more so than anyone on the earth. The leader of the exodus learned how to hone that strong passion (that once led him to kill an Egyptian) into a quiet strength that would humbly and obediently walk in step with his God.
Meekness in our lives
So, what about us? What is meekness for us as Christian women, and how does it translate into our own lives? We often think that biblical principles are supposed to look differently for us in today’s world; in our current culture. But sister, God never changes and neither does His Word. So the direction and instruction we read in the Bible apply to us in the same way it applied to those living in those times. With a careful study of the Word, you can find many ways the Lord instructs us in how to live with an attitude of meekness. What is meekness? Dare I say, it conveys strength. Here are just a few thoughts:
#1: Meekness means submitting to God.
We humbly bow to His Word and His will, recognizing that there is no power that we could possess on our own that would fruitfully bring forth the will of God.
#2: Meekness means we let go of our rights.
We realize that our “logical” privileges and rights aren’t greater than our calling as a child of God. Our earthly prestige may bring us fame and attention in this life, but He has so much more for us. We live in a way that knows this to be true, not in a manner that ensures we’re placed on a pedestal above those “lower” than us.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
#3: In meekness, we see strength in patience.
We know that even though we’re giving up our privileges and rights now, in our meekness and faithfulness to the Lord, we will inherit the earth. He’s got us. He cares for us. Our meek and mild attitude is not overlooked by Him. His reward is great for those who wait on Him, whether for His enactment of vengeance or simply for direction.
#4: In meekness, we share the truth with love and grace.
We should always be ready to communicate the source of our hope and shed light on our faith, but we do so with meekness— a gentle strength that exudes the power behind the gospel, but in a loving way that allows the hearer to feel the Holy Spirit’s conviction, not our condemnation (1 Peter 3:15).
STUDY EXAMPLES OF MEEKNESS IN THE BIBLE
God has given us all that’s needed to live a godly life– the answers are found in His Word! Let’s be women who live with meekness, humbly submitting to His blueprint for our lives. Use this FREE Bible study printables packet to aid you during your quiet time. Fill out the form below.
Blessed are the Meek, Sister
Honoring the Lord is not weak. It doesn’t mean we are less than. It takes more strength to refrain from unleashing the power you have than to actually unleash it. Like a well-trained horse, we know when to humbly submit and how to respond at the moment. Was this not, in fact, the example of our Lord?
There is no need to strive or to pursue a life of power so that our power can cause all things to work together for good for ourselves. No— that is the Lord’s job. Instead, as we allow ourselves to be enveloped with His gentleness, we can rest in His peace, knowing that He will make a way, in His own way. We simply need to trust and be obedient.
Meekness brings forth blessings— not only for you but for those who witness the love of Christ through your gentleness and respect.
Blessed are the meek.
Be blessed, sister!
Bible verses about meekness
Use your FREE Bible Study Printables (see download form above!) and find your own list of Bible verses about meekness! Here are just a handful to get you started. I encourage your to write them down in a favorite journal (here’s my favorite!) so you can be reminded when you need it.
Psalm 37:11 NKJV
But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
James 1:21 NKJV
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 3:13 NKJV
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
1 Peter 3:15 NKJV
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
Ephesians 4:1-2 NKJV
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love;
2 Corinthians 10:1 NASB
Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
See also:
Responding When God Calls You
No matter how we feel about change one thing is for certain– change is inevitable. We can do our best to avoid it, but nothing ever stays the same. So what do we do when God calls us to something new?
Do you like new things? Are you privy to change? Change is a funny thing. It sparks curiosity and excitement in some; despair and anxiety in others. Some bulk at change; others welcome it with open arms. Change can bring joy– like welcoming a new baby. It can also bring devastation and grief– like the loss of a loved one.
No matter how we feel about change one thing is for certain– change is inevitable. We can do our best to avoid it, but nothing ever stays 100% the same, 100% of the time, for all time. Sometimes, sister, we must learn how to buckle down and roll with the punches. We can’t always control the things that happen to us, and surely we can’t control every aspect of our lives.
But, what about the change that we know without a shadow of a doubt that God’s calling us to? The type of change that gives us a choice– will we step into the newness He’s leading us to, or will we fold our arms, stomp our feet, and say, “No”?
When God’s calling us to something new in life– a new path, new ministry, a future spouse, or a move across the country, we can choose to plant our feet in disobedience and not move. Or we can step out in faith, trusting God with what He has in store for us.
God’s calling you to something new
Think of a time that God called you to something new. Was it scary? A little intimidating? Exciting, perhaps? Maybe it was a mix of all three. I can think of times in my life– His calling for my husband and I to start a family; for us to become involved with the youth ministry at our church; when He called me to start a mom’s group; and yes– when He called me to start this blog!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Even though I love to write, when God’s calling on my life at the time was, “start a blog,” I bulked at that calling for a while. And by “for a while” I mean a couple of years! Every excuse in the book worked– from being too busy, what do I write, no one would read it, I’m a busy, tired mom, I don’t know how to run a website … anything you can think of, I thought of! And, I let those excuses paralyze me in a state of disobedience.
Disobedience is never what the Lord wants for our lives, but He extends so much grace, doesn’t He? He was patient with me. He kept gently poking at my heart a bit, little by little until I finally listened and decided to obey. Yes, decided. It’s always a decision, sister. We can do His will or not, but one thing I learned through this process is that His blessings come only when we’re obedient. This blog has been such an exciting part of my life since I started. Not only do I get to grow in a talent He’s given me and share that with others, but I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve grown closer to Him, and I’ve studied the Word so much over the last year and a half as I’ve written article after article.
We can’t possibly see all the blessings He intends for us as we follow God’s calling in our lives, and that’s ok. He just asks us to follow– to decide to follow. And, we have an ancient friend who, once upon a time, had to do the same thing.
Story of Moses in the Bible
So many of us are familiar with the story of Moses in the Bible, so I’m not going to retell it all here. If you’re newer to the faith, and perhaps only know bite-sized pieces about Moses, you can read about his background in Exodus 2. Moses was a Hebrew man who was marked at birth to die, yet saved, given a royal upbringing, and never forgot his heritage so much so that he killed an Egyptian for mistreating a fellow Hebrew. After fleeing to Midian in order to yet again escape death, he was married and then worked as a shepherd tending to his father-in-law’s sheep.
Why did Moses kill the Egyptian who mistreated his Hebrew brother? What angered him so much? Was it simply the injustice of the matter? Was it the way in which the Hebrew man was mistreated? Or, quite possibly, was God’s calling on Moses’s life beginning to stir in his heart even then?
Moses seemed to have a heart to keep the peace and want to set things right for the people (Exodus 2:13). He also had a unique upbringing that gave him access to the Egyptian lifestyle and royal life. Yet, he went from living ‘the life’ to shepherding sheep– a lowly, humbling job. If Moses at any point had been wondering if it was his job to free his people from slavery, he likely wasn’t thinking that was his path as he was counting sheep.
But sister, does God not use anything and everything in His sovereignty? When Moses encountered God at the burning bush (Exodus 3), the life he was living at the time appeared to look so much different than the something new of God’s calling for him. Leading God’s people out of Egypt…say what? I can only imagine Moses was wondering why he spent many years tending flocks if this was God’s calling on his life. We see this in Moses’s response to the Lord when he questions God with, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).
God’s Calling vs. God’s Callings
Pause. One thing I think we must remember about God’s calling on our lives is this: In God’s sovereignty, He knows our purpose, what He wills for us, and how all things will work out. He knows what He wants to use us to accomplish in His grand scheme of plans and purposes. Yet, it’s not our job to figure out that big, overarching “God’s calling” in our lives. He will reveal to us what He wants, and it will likely come about through the series of callings He has for us over the course of our lives.
Here’s what I mean. Seasons change; our lives go through ebbs and flows. The path we’re on right now may not be the path the Lord calls us to 5 years from now.
Currently, I’m a mom who God is calling to raise and train up my children in the way they should go. My husband and I are called to serve in youth ministry. I’m called to homeschool our children. But, 20 years from now, our children will be adults and I will no longer be called to train them up; they’ll have completed their schooling; and we may or may not still be called to serve in youth ministry. God will likely have new callings on our life at that point. It’s not our job to try to think up what those callings may be; we simply need to be obedient NOW, to the callings He has for us, right here, at this point in time.
As I look back at the 14 years of my professional career before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I have a clearer picture of God’s sovereign hand. At the time, I was called to work (perhaps in the end, I worked longer than I was called to, but there goes that disobedience factor again! I’m still learning, sister!) I think about the roles I was given and the opportunities to learn new skills– skills that kept me working behind a computer with at first, basic administrative tasks; then onto learning graphic design concepts– putting together flyers, booklets, pamphlets, and the like; to redesigning a website and creating newsletters– I could go on and on! With all of these skills I was able to develop, only to then become a stay-at-home mom I could easily wonder what it was all for. What was the purpose, God, if you knew you wanted me to stay home and raise my kids, anyway?
But wait– I am able to use my self-learned graphic design skills to help friends develop projects and to create all the freebies and downloads I have available on this website, not to mention the items available at Lampstand Prints! Redesigning a website for the organization I worked for in 2012 gave me the knowledge I needed to create, design, and run the very website you’re on right now. The love for writing I’ve always had since childhood God Has turned into a desire for ministry as I write these articles. He uses ALL things in our lives; all the callings along the way to manifest new callings further along the way. Nothing is wasted when we’re obedient, even if we don’t know what the purpose of it is at the time.
Just like with our friend Moses. What better way to pick up the skills needed to shepherd the Hebrew people out of Egypt and through the wilderness than through the shepherding of sheep? His lowly, humble life as a shepherd prepared him for God’s calling on his life 40 years later.
We too, no matter what season of life we’re in, need to be open and receptive to the Lord, paying attention to the Holy Spirit and His leading in our lives. We don’t want to miss what He has for us. Keeping in mind the life of Moses, let’s explore some truths about God’s calling on our lives.
Note: I am writing this, speaking directly to you as a Christian woman— married or single. But please know that when we’re married, God calls our husbands to be the spiritual leaders of our household, and as we follow God’s authority and humbly submit to those roles within our marriage, there is beauty in obedience. God's callings require communication and prayer between spouses; be sure you’re following the Lord’s will for your family.
1. God’s Calling Brings Change.
God can accomplish anything, right? Anything. Not only that, but He can accomplish anything He desires in our lives and in the lives of our children, those we minister to, or those around us; but, as with Moses, He uses us to bring about His plans and purposes. That still amazes me! He wants to use us. Therefore, we must be ready, willing, and available.
In Exodus 3:8, we see God say, “I have come down to rescue them” referring to the Hebrews who were suffering in slavery in Egypt. God tells Moses plainly that He heard their cry and He came to rescue them. Yet, when we look at verse 10, God tells Moses, “I will send you.” So is God rescuing them, or is He sending Moses to do the job? Yes. God’s calling for Moses’s life comes about as God works through Moses and He uses Moses to bring about His plans and purposes. God could, without a word, change Pharoah’s heart so he’d let the people go. But, what does that do for Moses; for the Hebrew people? God’s calling to use Moses for His plans brought about a physical change for the people, a change in location, a change in their faith, and a change in Moses’s faith and perspective of the power of God.
Moses, when angered by the injustice his fellow Hebrew brother faced those many years ago, killed that Egyptian; but, this was him trying to go about his calling by way of the flesh. Moses now knew that through the power of God, his calling started in the Spirit and would be perfected in the Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 3:3).
God’s plans always come with a focus on the heart of His people, not simply a change in the situation at hand.
8 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT TRUSTING GOD
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2. God’s calling reminds us where to focus.
When we realize God is calling us on a new adventure in our faith journey, sometimes our first response can be similar to Moses’s: “Who am I…?” (Exodus 3:11). Have you ever thought that? We wonder why God would choose us; who we are to do such a thing; or why in the world He would think we could even begin to accomplish that!
Yet, God’s calling doesn’t come with a requirement that we focus on ourselves. In fact, the more we focus on ourselves, the less qualified we’ll feel. It doesn’t matter who we are, per se; it matters who He is. And, if we trust in the Lord and walk in the Spirit, any thoughts of being disqualified vanish.
After Moses questions God with, “Who am I,” we see in verse 12 that the Lord doesn’t pay that question any regard:
“And He said, “Assuredly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” ”
God simply skips ahead to the good part– the part that reminds Moses that He will be with him as he steps out in faith and is obedient to his calling. Instead of reminding Moses who Moses is, the Lord reminds Moses of one of the most important facets of His character: His faithfulness. God directed Moses’s gaze to the correct place.
Sister, are we doing this with our kids or those we serve in ministry? Are we looking up enough, so they too can follow our lead and look up to the Lord? We don’t need to be confident in our own ability to step into what He calls us to do. Please hear me– we don’t need self-esteem or self-confidence! We need to esteem God and we need to have more God-confidence!
Let’s quit thinking about who we are and instead remember who God is.
3. God’s calling reveals who He is.
Not only do we need to look up to the Lord and set the example for others to follow in this, but there will also be times, as we’re stepping into God’s calling on our lives when we need to remind those journeying with us who God is. If you have a family, likely your calling affects everyone in your household to some degree. Newness and change bring hesitancy. But God is still the same and unchanging, and the knowledge of this truth brings peace. Don’t hesitate to communicate this truth.
Depending on each situation we’re facing, we can ask the Lord to tell us what facet of His character He wants to reveal to us and our families right now. Ask Him, like Moses, to tell you who you should tell them He is. We can take the time to review the many names of God and remind them of what they mean. Gentle reminders like these help to keep our focus on the Lord and His power and might as we step into this new situation and calling.
RELATED: 7 Reasons to Glorify God
4. God’s calling shows His power working through us.
You can be sure that not everyone is going to believe in God’s calling on your life in the way you do. Some will laugh. Some will resist. Some will encourage you, for sure. Yet, one thing we can be confident in is the fact that God will always display His power, might, and glory in our something new as we’re obedient. We need to just remember that it’s all about Him, not us.
Remember, the Lord, as He did with Moses, will tell us how to communicate His plan with others. He’ll give us the words to say to encourage our children or others who are affected by the change. Moses was unsure about how the Hebrews would respond to him as he shared God’s plan to lead them out of Egypt; he had reservations about whether or not they’d be on board. But God was ready to equip Moses with the right words to say to encourage them and bring understanding (Exodus 3:15).
God has all authority, and if He is transmitting authority through you (if you’re single; or you and your spouse) in a given situation, He will provide you with the communication tools needed to share His greatness and restore the people’s confidence in Him.
WHAT Not to Do in the Midst of God’s Calling
Sister, we could talk until we’re blue in the face about how the Lord is leading us in the season and the next, what it looks like, and what He desires to teach us through it. There is so much beauty (and learning!) in living a life sold out to the Lord, choosing to faithfully follow His lead throughout our days.
But we too can join Moses in questioning, wondering, and hesitancy. Like Moses, we’re human; we have free will, and have a front-row seat to the circumstances and opinions of people all around us. In light of all we may face as we’re stepping into God’s calling on our life, there are a few things we should avoid doing:
Don’t make excuses (Exodus 4:10)
Moses was worried that he couldn’t speak well, and he made sure to remind God about it! But we see that God is over all of our insufficiencies and struggles; and not only that, He can use them for His glory! His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). We can make all the excuses we want, but God has already remedied them all.
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Don’t be unwilling (Exodus 4:13-17)
At one point Moses asked God to send someone else instead. Likely he was feeling bogged down and discouraged by his insufficiencies, and he was more focused on himself than God. Do we not fall into the same trap, sister? This actually made God angry with Moses. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the Lord to become angry with me!
We must remember that if God calls us we are automatically qualified and able; BUT, we still have to decide to be willing. If we’ve spent all of this time telling others about what God is calling us to, communicating His power and greatness, but then we don’t step out in faith and do it, what are we truly saying? At that point, unfortunately, our disobedience speaks louder to others than anything we’ve shared about who God is. They can see we truly don’t believe and may wonder if they shouldn’t either.
Our obedience (or lack thereof) tremendously affects those around us, especially our children. They have a better chance of learning how to have a willing heart and obey God if they see that trait in us.
Don’t quit (Exodus 5:4-23)
In light of trials and adversity, stay steady. We can remember that we shouldn’t be surprised by the trials and opposition we face in the Christian life; it’s normal (1 Peter 4:12-13). Even when we see God working and bringing His plan to fruition, we’ll still face opposition. This doesn’t negate His plan; this is simply #facts.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ”
When Moses and Aaron first went to Pharaoh to ask for just a 3-day trip to go sacrifice, Pharaoh accused them of trying to get the Hebrews to slack in their labor. Therefore, Pharaoh made the work conditions harder for the slaves. He also beat the Hebrew foremen, who in turn went to Moses and Aaron and blamed them for what happened (Exodus 5:21). Instead of reminding the Hebrews of God’s promise, Moses turned to the Lord and blamed Him for “not holding up His end of the bargain” (Exodus 5:22-23).
Oh sister, do we not so easily do the same? A few struggles; a handful of “what were you thinking’s” and “I told you so’s” and we’re ready to jump ship, questioning God along the way. But, God is faithful, and we must take the lead from Him, not our circumstances and critics. Let’s not be swayed by others or our perspective of the path; we must simply go step by step with the Lord.
Our family quite possibly may be the first to lose heart by the setbacks on your journey; we cannot be the second.
instead, Be Encouraged!
You are a woman created on purpose! You dare to live a life that intentionally and purposefully follows Jesus. Different callings in our life can be unnerving, but the Lord has you. Your job is to be in tune with Him, following His will and His direction. Stay grounded in the safety of Him! He provides all the guidance, counsel, and peace that you need, every step of the way.
A Biblical Guide to Humility
What does it mean to humble yourself? It starts by adopting the same attitude– heart attitude– that Jesus had. Are we willing to choose…
“I’m the most humble person”…said no one ever. At least, no one who’s ever really thought about what they were saying, right?
Humility isn’t something you walk around telling everyone that you have. Most of the time, if that’s the case, that person typically doesn’t possess strong humility (if he has to tell everyone he’s a king, is he really…?) You get my drift?
Humility is a way of life– just like the other pieces of the Godly Woman Wardrobe, it’s who you are; how you live. But, as with the other pieces, it’s also a choice– a choice whether or not you will put on each article of clothing on a daily basis.
Sister, in an effort to humble yourself, just know that you can’t possess true humility outside of the Lord.
“Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility…”
In Colossians 3:12, the word humility in Greek means “humbleness of mind or lowliness of mind”, and it’s the same word used in Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:3, and 1 Peter 5:5.
It is in this attitude of the heart that we came before the Lord, admitting that we were sinners, repenting, and asking Him to be our Savior. As new creations in Christ, the elect of God, holy and beloved, it is our duty to continue in this heart attitude of humility. As Jesus did during His time on earth, we are to walk out our faith in a way that gives glory to God; and, that is possible if we are clothed in humility.
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An Example of Humility in the Bible
Grab your Bible and read Philippians 2:1-9 right now. Will you do that? It’s such a powerful passage that not only lets us know how we are to act but also why we are to act this way. It’s worth the read to understand just what we’re talking about here.
There are many examples of humility in the Bible when it comes to Jesus, but for now, in light of this passage, let’s focus on His ultimate act of humility. Jesus laid aside all He had in the heavenly places for a time, to come down to earth, to dwell among men– living, suffering, and dying for us. Philippians 2:7 says He made Himself of no reputation. He took on flesh, became a servant, and lived a humble life– one that led Him, in humble submission and obedience, to the cross.
You taste His humility when you think about the fact that He was born in a manger and born to parents who weren’t wealthy, living lavishly in a palace. Even Moses was raised in a wealthier lifestyle than Jesus while growing up!
Yet, Jesus didn’t seek those things for Himself; He didn’t try to elevate Himself or His status. He wasn’t trying to pursue a rags to riches story in this life. Don’t get me wrong— there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get out of poverty and create a better, more stable lifestyle for your family. My point is that Jesus was obedient to the Father’s will for His life, and He was willing to be born, live, and die in whatever way would bring about the plans and purposes of God and give Him the glory.
Of course, one of the most “famous” examples of humility in the Bible is when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples (John 13). A lowly, dirty job usually done by someone’s servant, Jesus instead took this task upon Himself. He wasn’t too high and mighty; it wasn’t beneath Him.
Jesus– the Son of the Godhead, humbled Himself. He didn’t have to, yet in the love of God– His great, unending, unfathomable love– God sent Jesus to die for our sins. As Christians, we are to be like Christ. He is our example and by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we follow His promptings, we too can live a life of humility.
And for us, what does that look like? What does it mean to humble? It starts with adopting the same attitude– heart attitude– that Jesus had. Are we willing to choose to take on humility– not just in our actions, but in our being? This is the example of Christ. Once we do, then the verses prior to Philippians 2:7 are a little easier to walk out.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
We’ll dissect these verses more in a minute, but for the time being, think about your day. Did the instruction of these verses ring true in your actions so far today? Were you selfishly completing tasks or unselfishly serving others? Did you look out more for others’ interests, or your own? (I’m asking myself the same questions right now, sister!)
RELATED: 3 Lessons on Humble Submissions
As we consider our heart attitude and ask the Lord to search our hearts and expose any wicked way within us, our pure intentions and motives come to light. It may not be pretty, but it is necessary because humility can’t fully manifest if we’re still holding onto ounces of pride.
Pride Goes Before a Fall
What is pride? Well, put simply, it’s not humility! Whereas we won’t spend a lot of time discussing pride in this article, it’s important to touch on it for a quick minute. We want to be sure that as we’re pursuing a life clothed in humility, we are aware of the ways pride can manifest in our lives.
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. ”
If you’ve peeked around on my blog, you may have noticed that I’ve already written an article that answers the question, What is pride? Although the majority of that article was written specifically in regard to motherhood, pride, as you know, is something that can creep into every area of a Christian woman’s life.
It’s so easy to focus more on ourselves, our own agendas, and our wants. This can be fulfilling for a time, and we may even be satisfied with the outcome. Yet, things won’t go well for long if this is the normal way we conduct our lives. When we’re too focused on ourselves (whether we think we are so great or so little) we are not focused enough on the Lord. We believe we can do it all on our own, in our own strength. Or, we believe that we can’t do anything at all, so what’s the point?
Pride hinders us from fully trusting in the Lord and walking by faith.
In faith, we realize that His power is made perfect in our weakness, so it doesn’t matter if we aren’t good enough. And, faith shows us that no matter how skilled we are, we still need Him through the process to guide us, direct us, and keep our eyes focused on glorifying Him in the outcome.
RELATED: Dealing with the Idol of Self
Humble Yourself
The beautiful thing about humility is that it is easily done by way of submission. Some of you may be thinking, submission? Why is that beautiful? I know, sometimes we struggle with this word; especially as women living in today’s culture where we’re told to take charge, be in control, and be a queen. Unfortunately, this attitude of a culture-approved worldview is saved for the prideful and as Christian women, we shouldn’t want any part of that.
Submission is a beautiful thing because it puts us in a place where we know we are under the guidance, care, and leadership of a higher authority. And, if this authority is trustworthy and truthful, we have nothing to fear.
Sister, this is our Lord. Even as married women being that the Lord calls us to submit to our husbands, we do this as unto Christ. Godly submission always trails back to Him, as the Higher, Trustworthy, and Truthful Authority. When we see Him in this respect, and in that respect we respect those on earth He has placed in leadership over us, we can then willingly be clothed in humility. Our pride will relinquish and we won’t be bucking at the system because we know that it’s the Lord’s system and we trust Him. We understand that His hand is indeed mighty, and we can trust His mighty hand with any care we may have.
When we’re clothed with humility, others see a gentle radiance exude from our lives. We happily serve in the lowest of ways, as Jesus did when He washed His disciples' feet; we don’t care if we go unnoticed; we don’t expect to always get a ‘thank you’; and we think of others first, over self.
“If you are willing to be nothing God will make something of you. The way to the top of the ladder is to begin at the lowest round. In fact in the church of God, the way up is to go down; but he that is ambitious to be at the top will find himself before long at the bottom.”
With humility comes grace (1 Peter 5:5). Who doesn’t want more of God’s grace? Grace is amazing because it has nothing to do with us— it all stems from God and His character. It’s a blessing and promise from God for those who are humble.
And secondly, with humility comes exaltation (1 Peter 5:6). In due time— God’s timing— He exalts us, in whatever way or fashion He desires in His sovereignty. Yet, if we’re on a path determined to exalt ourselves, this is the path of pride, and there will be resistance. We must trust and believe that the Lord cares for us enough that all things will work out for our good and His glory.
FIND TRUE EXAMPLES OF HUMILITY IN THE WORD
Sister, we can make up our life as we go along, or we can follow the blueprint God has provided for us. Let’s be women who live purposefully for the Lord by way of being intentional in our study of Him! Use this FREE printable study packet to aid you during your quiet time before the Lord. Fill out the form below.
{Pair this study packet with the best Bible pens and highlighters}
How to Humble Yourself
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can choose, daily, to clothe ourselves with humility. As with many things in the Christian life– it’s easier said than done. As I mentioned earlier, Philippians 2 gives us a little bit of insight into how we can practically walk out this calling in our lives. Write it in your personal journal and refer to it often. Let’s read it again:
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
#1: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.
First of all, sister, nothing means nothing. There is not one thing, ever, that we should do with selfish ambition or conceit (a highly favorable opinion of yourself). Yes, we can be ambitious for the Lord– striving to live a life pleasing to Him, to serve Him with all we have, and to be faithful to the calling He’s given us. An ambition that is focused toward God is ok. It’s the ambition that is selfish, however, that is not ok. When we’re concerned with our own promotion and advancement, thinking only of how things will work out for us–this is what the world means when they say, “Look out for #1.”
We don’t have to live this way– bowing down to what we believe is best for only us. The Lord has a better way and His way works together for good to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)– not just for some of us, all of us! At the same time! This is why God’s sovereignty is so important for us to keep in mind. His ways are higher than our ways and we don’t know the end from the beginning. The best we can and should do is to remove selfish ambition and conceit from our wardrobe and humble ourselves before Him, knowing that He will promote us in due time.
#2: In lowliness of mind, esteem others better than yourself.
Our job as Christian women is not to walk around thinking we are better than any one person (or everyone else). Relinquish high self-esteem and superiority at the foot of the cross. Again, this gentle, meek, lowliness of mind is the attitude Jesus possessed during His time on earth.
What does this look like for us?
It means we see each other as made in the image of God.
We don’t look down on someone who struggles financially or who doesn’t have shoes as nice as ours.
We see opportunities where our strengths can complement a sister’s weaknesses, and vice versa.
No one is below us, and honestly, we don’t put people on idol-like pedestals thinking there are so high above us either.
The Lord places each of us in positions according to His will, and that’s His business. As we esteem others as better, this means we see others as unique creations of our Heavenly Father with desires, needs, and struggles. We’re not so focused on ourselves that we miss it. And in our lowliness of mind, we are ready to graciously and humbly stoop down to serve them. When we all do this for one another, this creates greater love and unity in the body of Christ.
#3: Look out for the interest of others.
We should not miss the fact that this verse doesn’t say that we are to ONLY look out for the interest of others– it does say that we’re to look out for our own interests too. So we should still, of course, care about our lives, our families, and the calling the Lord has for us. Yet, is not to be our one and only concern. Again, with too much pride, selfish ambition, and conceit, we’re toeing the line of looking out for #1.
Instead, as we remove the negative pieces of our wardrobe, looking out for the interest of others comes naturally. When the Lord’s ways are above ours, we see others as made in the image of God. And, when we desire to serve them in their needs, by default we begin to possess more of an attitude that looks out for the interest of others. When I say “by default”, I don’t mean that it’ll happen 100% of the time on its own–no, it’s still our choice, sister! Yet, how much easier will it be, when we’re clothed in humility, to look out for others and want what’s best for them, just as the Lord does?
It takes a conscious effort and decision, a moment-by-moment reliance on the Holy Spirit. And, oh what beauty comes when we do so.
Bible Verses About Humility
There are so many stories in the Bible that focus on those who were humble and then exalted by God, and those who exalted themselves and therefore were humbled by God (just read the book of Daniel!). We have many examples to learn from, sister. But for now, I’ll leave you with a few Bible verses about humility:
Ephesians 4:2 NKJV: “…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”
Philippians 2:3 NKJV: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
1 Peter 5:5 NKJV: “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”’
1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Job 42:1-6 NASB: “Then Job answered the Lord and said, ‘“I know that You can do all things, and that no plan is impossible for You. ‘Who is this who conceals advice without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I do not know. ‘Please listen, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent, sitting on dust and ashes.”’
James 4:10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV: “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”
2 Samuel 22:28 NKJV: “You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 32:26 NKJV: “Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”
Psalm 18:27 NKJV: “For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.”
Proverbs 3:34 NKJV: “Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.”
Do you have others that are your favorites? Comment below!
Is it Ever Ok For A Christian To Lie?
The Bible has a lot to say about lying. As a Christian, it’s important we heed its advice. From honesty stems integrity, and from there, our character. Read on to learn why this recipe is important, and practical tips to help displace dishonesty in our lives.
In our household, lying is a serious offense. Small lies, big lies, it doesn’t matter. We don’t fabricate tales. We don’t cheat while playing board games. We don’t tell only half of the story, while purposely leaving certain details out.
When we’re playing games with our kids, whether board games or active sports, if someone cheats to gain an advantage or win, that person is immediately disqualified (or the game piece is kicked off the board!). It’s easy to say, “It’s just a game”, or “Oh, he’s only 6 years old, he’ll grow out of it.” But, that’s not helpful. That’s dangerous. With three kids 8 years old and under, we know by now that habits are formed at an early age, and one of the easiest habits to take hold of your heart and your life is lying.
The more you lie, the easier it is to lie. Little by little, it becomes your default. When you’re not sure what to say. When you’re not sure how someone may take the news. When you’re not sure what to do. A flat-out lie, or perhaps, the truth sprinkled with a little lie, becomes your default.
As a Christian, is it ever ok to lie?
In today’s world, there is a lot of conflicting talk about truth, lies, and honesty. What is honesty? What’s a lie? What’s wrong with a white lie? Is a lie ok as long as it was told to protect someone, something, or so you don’t hurt someone’s feelings?
There’s plenty of narrative going on about the right and wrong answers to these questions.
But who are you listening to– the world, or the Word?
Whether or not you are honest plays a huge role in your integrity and your character, and your character and integrity are the hallmarks of your life. We’ll get to that later. But first, let’s take a look at what the Bible says about lying.
What Does the Bible Say About Lying?
The Bible says several very important things about lying. Let’s take a look.
GOD HATES LIES
For one thing, we know that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that God hates lies.
“These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren. ”
I figure that if at least two of the seven things the Lord hates have to do with lying, it’s pretty safe to say you probably shouldn’t be doing it.
THE LORD IS TRUTH
Not only does the Lord hate lying, but more importantly, He is Truth. (John 14:6). Part of His character— who He is— is truth. He literally is Truth. As His followers, His children, we are to desire to live in a way that not only glorifies Him but also points others in His direction. The fruit you bear should demonstrate that He is in you and working in you. Therefore, if He is truth, and He is in you, then what comes out of you should also be truth. In other words, the apple shouldn’t fall far from the tree.
THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS COME OUT
The truth will always be found out. You may deceive others for a time, but the Lord knows your heart and knows the truth. Jeremiah 28:15-17 talks about how Hananiah, who was a false prophet, made the Israelites believe a lie. The Lord didn’t allow this to manifest, but instead revealed the truth to Jeremiah, who confronted Hananiah and he was therefore condemned.
YOU SHOULD STAND FOR TRUTH
God calls you to stand for His truth and go against popular thought. Various times in the book of Ezekiel, God calls him to speak out against the various lies and claims others were speaking to the people. If popular thought goes against His Word, it’s up to His believers to go against popular thought.
THE TRUTH ABOUT LYING
Lying is a sin (Exodus 20:16). The more you lie, the less you trust others, including the Lord, because you’ve conditioned your mind to be in a constant state of falsehood. The truth becomes blurred and everything is suspect.
Will you listen to the world or the Word?
How To Stop Lying: 5 Biblical tips
So, if you have a habit of lying, what’s the solution? I think the answer is (generally) the same as it is for many things you may struggle with in this life.
Previously, I referenced the list of the seven things the Lord hates, as seen in Proverbs chapter 6. But, if you continue reading, immediately after the Lord tells you what He hates, He gives you a few instructions:
“My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
When you roam, they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life... ”
So, how can you stop lying if it’s become a habit? Based on this Proverb, here are 5 practical and prayerful tips:
#1: Know you can’t do it on your own.
You can’t possibly expect to overcome the sin of lying on your own. James tells us how powerful our tongue is, like a small rudder that can control a large ship. You can’t just wake up one day and say, “I’m going to stop lying.” Well, you can say that, but that’s not something you’ll be able to live out day by day, long term, in your own strength. It starts with acknowledging this truth.
#2: Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
You need the help of the Holy Spirit. Surrender to Him. Through Him, you have the power to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Since we know our words begin as thoughts, this is an important part of the process we can’t forsake. Hand your thoughts over to Him so He can help you think on good things (Philippians 4:8). Allow Him to convict you of right and wrong, truth and error— and let His peace guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
#3: Hold fast to the Word.
The Lord urges you to keep His Word. Know it. Bind it continually on your heart and tie it around your neck. Memorize Scripture so it’s permanently impressed in your mind and on your heart,
SO THAT, it prompts every action you take;
SO THAT, when you roam-- that is, when you go about your life doing all the daily things-- it will lead you;
SO THAT, even when you sleep, you know you are safe, protected, and kept by the Lord;
SO THAT, when you are awake, making decisions, or going through a situation, the Word will be active and fresh in your mind-- speaking with you, and telling you what is right, true, and good.
#4: Ask the Lord to search your heart.
Not only do you need to hang tight to the Word and impress it upon your heart, but it’s also imperative that you purge any other impurities from your thoughts and heart. The trick is, however, that many times you don’t even realize they’re there. This is why, like David, it’s important to ask the Lord to search your heart and see if there is any wicked way within you (Psalm 139:23-24). Give the Word a clean slate on which to write.
#5: Ask the Lord for Help.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
This is a biggie. Being in constant communication with the Lord throughout the day is the only way to tame your tongue. This goes back to point #1 (Know you can’t do it on your own). Before you speak— no– before you think a thought, ask the Lord to help you only think and say those things that would glorify Him.
God and His Word are always the solutions.
The Importance of Integrity in Your Life
I hear honesty and integrity hashed around together as if they’re one and the same. Although they’re similar and pair well together, I like to think that honesty is the main staple of integrity; meaning, without honesty, you can’t have integrity.
Merriam-Webster defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral values; the quality of being honest and fair; the state of being complete, whole or undivided.”
If integrity is the state of being whole and undivided, then let’s think of it as not being divided between flesh and spirit in your decision-making. You cannot choose both. You cannot walk in the flesh and in the Spirit at the same time.
When you choose to have integrity in a moment, you are choosing undivided loyalty in serving the Lord, wholly walking in the Spirit in accordance with His Word.
Please note: Integrity isn’t something you choose once, and then you always have it. It is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment decision. It’s a choice you make in every action you take.
As with honesty, the world has a lot to tell you about integrity. Thankfully, so does the Word.
The Lord takes seriously your actions and integrity, or lack thereof. Job 2:3 talks about how the Lord saw that Job was incredibly blameless and upright. He saw his integrity and the Lord knew that even up against the worst darts from Satan, Job would not fold.
You are to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).
If your light is to shine before men so they see your good works and glorify Him, you’d better be walking in integrity! A lack of integrity can automatically weaken your testimony.
If you read Daniel 1:3-21, you’ll see how Daniel and his three friends held fast to their integrity, refusing to take part in something commanded of them by an earthly king because it went against what was commanded of them by the King of kings. They could have easily gone with the crowd. Daniel was respectful in his plea to go against the king’s wishes; nevertheless, he was firm. He trusted that the Lord would bless them for remaining faithful. And the Lord did.
The cost of losing your integrity is always greater than whatever it costs to keep it.
What Is More Important: Character or Reputation?
So we’ve talked about honesty and integrity. Putting it all together, I’d say there is a link or progression that looks like this:
live according to the Word + honesty = develop integrity
When you choose to live according to the Word and be honest, you begin to develop integrity (an adherence to walking in the Spirit on a regular basis). Over time, integrity becomes a part of your character.
then… your integrity becomes part of your character.
Character is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Your character is who you are, truly in the deepest depths of your soul. Your actions are a reflection or mirror of your character. Your character is who you truly are and encompasses your honesty and integrity before the Lord or lack thereof.
Your reputation is who other people think you are, and simply encompasses what others think of you, based on your actions and words. Reputation is based on opinion. In short, your reputation isn’t even part of the equation.
should you be more concerned with your reputation or character?
The world is full of Facebookers, Instagrammers, and Snapchatters striving to build up their reputation. I’m not saying any of these social media outlets are bad, but you need to check yourself— are you consumed with gaining more and more followers, or are you focused on the One you are to be following?
If you’re seeking Jesus, you have to remember that He is not going to pop up in your list of followers. He doesn’t “follow” you. He calls you to follow Him.
does your reputation match your character?
Your reputation can either line up with your character or not. If you’re living falsely and putting on fronts, your reputation is not truly reflecting who you are. This is so easy to do in all areas of life, but especially in a social media world. There are enough filters to go around to make you appear how you want to be seen by others.
Keep in mind that once you lose your reputation, it’s very hard to get back. This is a great thing if your reputation was of the negative persuasion, and then, as you are continually changed by Christ, others begin to see you differently. Those negative, old ways are left behind.
You look a little more like Him. Your character reflects someone who is living according to the Word and the Lord’s will for your life, and little by little, your reputation starts to line up with that. This is an awesome thing. As a Christian, it’s important to have the character of a woman who is pursuing righteousness.
Obviously, losing your reputation is not so great if it was once viewed as good and decent, and now is moving in the other direction.
the bottom line
It’s ok to be aware of our reputation, in terms of being sure you are doing your best to glorify God in your words, actions, and your conduct before others. However, if you’re so consumed with thinking about your reputation because you feel you have to be “fake” in order to keep up with appearances, then your main focus should be on developing a godly character. Allow the Lord to work in you, and eventually, your good reputation will prove itself.
As a woman of God, although you sometimes want to focus more on what the people right in front of you think, it’s more important to be aware of who you are before the Lord. Does your character reflect that of Christ or at least one that is progressively moving in that direction? If so, then your reputation will eventually catch up.
So, to answer the initial question:
“Is it ever ok for a Christian to lie?”
No. Do not be deceived in listening to what the world may tell you. According to what the Word says, the answer is: No. Lying creates a lifestyle that is contrary to the Lord's character and His intentions for us, and it weakens our integrity and taints our character.
There will always be times when you’re tempted. There will be times when it seems like the right thing to do, and when there seems to be no other foreseeable option.
Although you read some instances in Scripture where people lied and the outcome was favorable, lying is never something you see the Lord condone or praise in the Word. He is Truth, and as His follower, He wants you to pursue Him and all that He is so that you can become more and more like Him.
cancel out the noise
So, sister— hold fast to your honesty and integrity before the Lord. When the world tries to tell you how to live, pop on those noise-canceling headphones and drown it out. Purpose to only listen to what the Word says.
Quit following others. Instead, follow Him— and, thanks to the blood of Jesus and the Lord seeing us as righteous, I promise He’ll hit the “Like” button on your life every time.
To the Mom Who is Weary
Dear Mama,
I know you are tired. There are many noses to wipe, floors to clean, and meals to be had. I know, at the end of the day, you go to bed exhausted. And, perhaps even before the sun, you rise exhausted. But, Jesus has a few instructions for us weary moms.
Dear Tired Mom,
Can we talk about why we are weary? I’ll go first:
Most days, I have a Martha complex. You know, Martha– sister of Mary and Lazarus, three of Jesus’s friends who we meet in the pages of Scripture. There are things to be done around the house and someone needs to do them, no matter the cost; no matter what may be more important. At least, that’s what I tell myself. As a stay-at-home mom of three children, my days are filled with laundry, wiping down the bathroom for the umpteenth time, sweeping, and picking up hot dogs and mac n’ cheese off of the floor. There is always something.to.do. Always.
I’m not just talking to those of you who are fellow stay-at-home moms. The first five years of motherhood, I worked full-time. Working outside of the house and then coming home to do all the things around the house didn’t exactly leave more time to get things done! You know what I’m talking about.
At the end of the day, my head hits the pillow hard. I’m a tired mom. I should be exhausted enough to just drift off to sleep in extreme haste. Yet, more often than not, I lay in the dark replaying the day in my head– every mistake, every opportunity missed with my kids, and everything I could have done differently.
You’d think that after checking off all the tasks on my to-do list, I’d feel accomplished. Instead, most nights, I argue with myself about whether or not I’ve failed my kids in some type of way.
Maybe if I’d just spent less time washing the dishes and more time playing with my kids…maybe if I didn’t care so much about the messes made…if I had only spent more time reading to them instead of picking up around the house…if only…if only…
Even though I know that 75% of the things I think aren’t even true or don’t hold a heavy weight of severity in terms of “what matters in the grand scheme of things,” my thoughts still leave me weary and downtrodden, asking the Lord to help me have a better day tomorrow.
Fellow mama– am I all alone here, or can you relate?
The Lord doesn’t want us to live this way. The best that He has for us looks nothing like my regular nights. He doesn’t want us to live out our days in regret, focusing on all the wrong things. Just as He did with Martha, He desires us to sit at His feet and choose the better things.
So, weary mama, TIRED MOM– this one’s for you (and me!).
WHEN YOU’RE A TIRED MOM
Dear Tired Mom,
Yes, I know you are tired. There are many noses to wipe, floors to clean, and meals to be had. I know, at the end of the day, you go to bed exhausted. And, perhaps even before the sun, you rise exhausted.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.
”
Those “who are weary,” as Jesus says, are those who work to exhaustion or labor. The word “labor” means to take burdens upon yourself. Are you like me, mama? When I'm weary, my default mode is to get overwhelmed and frustrated, which is a burden I take upon myself.
But, please remember-- mothering, in and of itself, isn't a burden.
Yes, at times, it can soak up every ounce of energy you have, make you want to pull out your hair, and turn to gray what hair you do have left; but, it's not a burden. It is one of the greatest gifts and privileges bestowed upon you by your Lord. The burden of true weariness lies in your frustration.
Instead of becoming frustrated, purpose to change your default behavior to one that comes before Him.
yoke of Jesus vs. your yoke
Dear Tired Mom,
Would you really put on a winter coat to go outside on a 95-degree day? Please understand, this is what you are doing when you take your yoke upon yourself. Your yoke includes those frustrations, burdens, and weariness-- the very things that are heavy, weigh you down, and exhaust you.
But, Jesus instructs you to take His yoke-- the one that is easy and light. The one that doesn't contain the burdens you've placed upon yourself. Take off your yoke and put on His.
A TIRED MOM NEEDS A LOWLY Jesus
Dear Tired Mom,
I know you would agree with me that Jesus is a servant, and as His child, you are called to be like Him. Yes, you should remember that it’s a privilege to serve your family and have this servant’s heart. Yet, despite those facts, you are still not qualified to carry out those tasks on your own. Jesus regularly took things to the Father in prayer (he was literally praying right before He spoke these words!).
Striving to be more like Him, you too need to regularly take the pieces of your life before the Father. You see, it takes humility to release to someone else those things you think you can do on your own. However, it needs to be done. You do not have the strength or ability to be gentle in the midst of carrying your burdens. There’s a reason Jesus calls all who are weary in this passage. He knows we’ll encounter this in our lives. Give your burdens to the Lord. Then, and only then, will you have the strength to truly serve your family with a gentle and lowly attitude.
rest for your soul will come
Dear Tired Mom,
Rest. Can I get an amen?! That four-letter, beautiful word. Yes, this is a promise. Only when you release your burdens and put on His yoke, do you find rest. The more you toil, tarry, and flutter, the less rest you find.
What I’m about to say may sound like Captain Obvious, but you don’t find rest by doing, being, or accomplishing more. I know at times I tend to forget that. Please don't join me in that mistake. If you cannot find rest for your soul, that’s an indication that something is wrong. You’re doing too much on your own.
Yet, this isn't just physical rest-- this is spiritual rest. True peace only comes when you make Jesus Lord of your life. And, when He’s Lord of your life, you willingly hand everything over to Him, let Him direct your steps, and take every thought captive to Him.
It doesn't mean that your days will suddenly become easy and your struggles will go away. I promise you, there still will be food stuck to the walls, water on the floor because your daughter’s doll wanted to “go to the pool” (true story), and potty-training mishaps. Even so, you'll have His peace because His yoke is comfortable, easy, and light.
Why? Because He bears the weight and you are at His feet, in strong fellowship with Him.
So, take heart, Tired Mom; Weary Mama.
combat the weariness with all you need
Jesus truly is all we need. He is our rest, our comfort, our peace, and our guidance. He’s done so much for us already, but in our busy motherhood, we often don’t take the time to look back and remember. This FREE, 5-Day Devotional Study calls you to reflect on the past while simultaneously being aware of His provision in your life, right now. Fill out the form below.
a decision for the tired mom
Can I give you a bit more encouragement? Now that we’ve lamented a bit and worn our hearts on our sleeve, let’s get practical. We know how to get the rest for our souls that Jesus desires for us, but we have a choice to make. It’s the same choice the Israelites were once faced with.
Prior to the impending event of the Israelites being captured and taken to Babylon, the Prophet Jeremiah spoke these words:
“This is what the Lord says:
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
Then you will find a resting place for your souls.”
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ”
It was true for the Israelites of that time, yet, there is a lot of wisdom in it for us today. Ironically, the wisdom is this-- while there is in fact wisdom available and offered to us by God, we have the opportunity to either accept or reject it.
So, allow me to bring this encouragement to you:
dear tired mom: Stand by the way and see
First, the Lord invites you to stand in His ways. When you stand, you stop moving and stop fluttering. Then He calls you to see– take the time to look and ask. Ponder His Word. Remember and meditate on His ways, and the things He has done for you in the past. Remember what He’s brought you through– those sleepless nights when your now 8-year-old was an infant and would wake hour after hour. Those times when your child disobeyed you directly, to your face. The time when this same child flushed a toy down the toilet for the 3rd time in six weeks (another true story).
Remember the times that were tough on your patience and your resolve, that the Lord brought you through. Reflect on the “good ways” of the Lord and have a heart to want to walk in those ways now.
dear tired Mom: walk in his ways
Then, He tells you to “Walk in it.” As the verse states in its entirety– first, you need to stand, regroup, re-center, and get back on the right path. Then, and only then, should you start walking. Otherwise, it’s likely that you’ll be walking on the wrong path, in disobedience to Him. Walk His path– obeying Him and following the ways in which He instructs you.
dear tired mom: obedience = rest
You see, that rest for your soul comes when you’re obedient. It comes when you’ve cast your cares, burdens, and worries on Him, and when you’re walking His path. Not only His path for your life as a whole but also His path for you at that moment. Only then will you find rest. And yes, just as in Matthew 11:29, this is a promise.
dear tired mom": it’s your choice…
The Israelites chose not to follow and obey God. They rejected the right path. Jeremiah 6:16 ends with, “But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Do you know that you’re capable of making this same choice? I know I’m guilty of it in the heat of the moment– when things are hard, no one is listening, and the kids are bickering. During those moments when I choose to become frustrated as opposed to taking my thoughts, feelings, and motherly anger to God, I’m saying, “I will not walk in it.” By not taking the yoke of Jesus, you are saying, “I will not walk in it.”
Sister, weary, tired mom— understand that when you choose to not walk in the way He provides for us, you are ultimately rejecting the promise of rest. This answers the question, Why am I weary?
dear tired mom: accept his promise.
Please join me in accepting this promise. I have a feeling we won’t regret it. That means we have to lay down our want to finish our to-do lists; our need to have the best-looking house or Instagram-worthy craft-making time; and our desire to raise the most perfect, godly children. Jesus didn’t offer to help Martha around the house so she could serve harder and expend more energy, creating the perfect experience for her guests. Jesus gently reminded her that her sister, Mary, chose to do what was important at that moment. In a way, I believe He was telling Martha to take His yoke upon her, right then and there. I also believe that most days, He whispers the same to us.
Rest for our souls begins with laying down our burdens and sitting at His feet.
So, come on. I saved a spot for you.
Won’t you join me?
Clothed in Kindness: 4 Biblical Ways to Be Kind
Kindness is goodness towards others that involves your whole being and mellows any harshness within you. So, it’s not just being kind to someone…
Did you know that as a Christian woman, you have a lot? I don’t know about you, but I often forget that. I feel I have little, whether it’s money, possessions, or the right tools to “get it done.” Sometimes this may be true— we all go through seasons of plenty and seasons of lack. Nevertheless, all the time we really do have all things— all the things that matter, anyway.
2 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. All things. All things we need to live life and live a godly life. I’ll say it again, all things.
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ”
This happens through the knowledge of Him. We come to know Him through spending time with Him in prayer and our quiet times— and through that knowledge, in His divine power, we have all things we need to walk out our faith.
As partakers of this divine nature, we have put off our old ways, and put on, in all diligence, His ways— faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, brotherly kindness, and the like.
The keyword here is diligence. The Lord gives us these things, but it takes diligence on our part— it takes a decision— to continually choose to put on these traits and live them out in our lives. It’s not passive. Just as we may have hangers of clothes in our closets, indeed we have clothes, yet we must make the decision to put them on in order to make them useful and effective in our lives. When we add these godly traits to our faith, we glorify God in our words, deeds, and life.
Colossians 3 tells us about 7 specific traits– what I like to call the Godly Woman Wardrobe. If you haven’t read the synopsis of these traits, start here: 7 Things Every Christian Woman Should Wear
Are you ready to step into the new? Today we’re looking at trait #2: Kindness.
What is kindness?
Kindness is compassion in action. Whereas compassion could simply be the feeling we have towards another in need— a sympathetic or empathetic thought or feeling— kindness is that feeling put into action. We don’t just look upon one who is suffering and feel sorry for them or feel their pain, we actually step in and do something about it.
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness… ”
Kindness is an action. It’s the right words, the right gestures, and the right deeds. It communicates God’s love sincerely and plainly. Kindness has to be done and shown to another person.
RELATED: Part 1, The Godly Woman Wardrobe: 5 Ways to Show Compassion
Kindness is goodness towards others that involves your whole being and mellows any harshness within you. So, it’s not just being kind to someone—it’s that your BEING is kind. This means that it’s more than having good manners, right? Even the rudest of people can choose to have good manners when they want to. But, showing kindness is more than that.
Of course, as with any good thing, the example of kindness that we have comes from God Himself. So let’s take a look at His ultimate kindness so we can understand it a little bit better.
Kindness in the Bible
When we consider taking a tour through all the examples of kindness in the Bible, God’s kindness should be the first pit stop that we make. As the Maker of all things, He created kindness and embodies all there is to it. We need to look no further than who He is. Although we could pull many saints’ examples from Scripture, today we’re just going to focus on the One from who it all stems.
God’s ultimate kindness came in the form of the salvation He offers us. Even in our lowest and worst state, in our sin, His love still broke through and in His mercy and kindness He offered us a beautiful, free gift. This, of course, has nothing to do with us– we did nothing. We did not and cannot save ourselves. This is based on who He is, according to His mercy, faithfulness, and love.
“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
In God’s kindness, goodness, and grace, He offers salvation to all— the Jew and the Gentile. We have been adopted and grafted into His beloved people, and we can choose to accept and remain in that kindness (Romans 11:22).
Yet in all of this, we shouldn’t think there is anything superior or special about us because we have experienced the kindness of God. God’s kindness is for everyone, for all. In the same respect, we also shouldn’t take it lightly. Despite our past, present, and future sins, He still remains faithful in His kindness toward us. For believers, in Christ, He no longer condemns us for past sins and doesn’t judge us for our current sins and future sins. For unbelievers, His kindness isn’t Him being slack– it’s meant to draw them to repentance. Thank God for the kindness He shows through His restraint, mercy, and patience (Romans 2:4).
What about us, sister? Can we show the same restraint, mercy, patience, and love in our lives?
A Kind Person: Are You?
As Christian women, kindness is something that should permeate our being. It’s not that we just choose to be kind in various situations, but the entire representation of our being should be that we are kind– who we are, at our core, is kindness. Titus 3:1 tells us that we should be ready for every good deed. This means that we aren’t sleeping on our kindness, sister! It’s a natural flow– we see a need, we fill it; we recognize that someone needs love, and we give it– simply because that’s who we are. We’re always ready, willing, and able.
The second verse of Titus 3 goes on to tell us specifically how kindness manifests itself in the life of a believer:
…to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. -Titus 3:2 NASB
Kindness, as our being, means we have a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). We don’t slander or strive to cause division and contention with others; it’s just not who we are. And how do we do all this? By “showing every consideration for all people.” We see others how the Lord sees them, through His lens and perspective, not ours. When this is our vantage point, we can’t help but see the woman next to us as a fellow person, created in the image of God, just like we are. We can’t help to realize that our sister in Christ, even with her flaws, is still holy, blameless, and beloved, just as we are (in all of our flaws!).
Sister, when you adopt His kindness as your own and it rules your being, then being kind is absolutely the only logical thing that makes sense. You can truly be a kind person because His power working through you gives you the grace, patience, wisdom, and self-control to be so.
How to Be Kind: 4 Biblical Principles
Showing kindness isn’t a huge feat when we’re walking step-in-step with the Spirit. Here are 4 practical and biblical ways that you can show kindness as you walk out your faith.
#1: Show kindness through the things you do.
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. -NKJV
You show kindness when you do things for others without expecting anything in return. You look out for others, offer a lending hand, and walk out the truth of the Word. One way to do this is to be the hands and feet of Jesus— you can share His truth by words, yes, but you must also share the truth of His character and His love (for all of us) by your deeds.
This goes for your enemies (Luke 6:35) and your friends, especially those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
So, make that meal, offer to babysit, help her to her car, and don’t repay evil for evil. So much can be conveyed about our Lord by our actions.
The Lord leads the way in Kindness: Free 5-Day Devotional
Do you need to remember all God has done for you? Often, we don’t take the time to sit and reflect on His provision. Nevertheless, He keeps providing, doesn’t He? Download this new, 5-day devotional study, look back, and remember the goodness He has lavished in your life in the areas of your faith, marriage, motherhood, home, and finances. Then, open your eyes to all He is doing for you right now. Fill out the form below.
#2: Be kind with your words.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. -Proverbs 31:26 NKJV
What does your speech sound like? Is kindness on your tongue all the time– in easy and hard situations? Even when you don’t agree with someone? Words are powerful and speak volumes about what’s in our hearts. The Word tells us to be sure what we have is edifying and imparts grace to the hearers (Ephesians 4:29). This is possible when we’re walking by the Spirit and being mindful of what He wants us to say in any given situation.
But, speaking kindly can also be a planned, intentional decision. Look for nice things to say to a sister– about her new haircut, her outfit, or the way she handled a particular situation. Are you thankful for the way she shared her talent or gift with you or others? Say so. Be a noticer and someone who speaks up. Kind words will be remembered.
#3: Put others above self.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. -Romans 12:10 NKJV
We live in a world that says it’s acceptable to put yourself first. All the time, just look out for #1. Yet, this isn’t the way that Jesus lived. He always sought the needs of others first and took care of those around Him. He was about His Father’s business and lived to do His will. The same should be true for us.
When you live a life of kindness, brotherly love comes naturally. You care for the sister in your midst, whether she dropped a pacifier in front of your feet, or she’s grieving the loss of a loved one. No matter how busy you are in the moment, or how your day has shaped up so far, you take the time to give preference to others and help to meet their needs. You can extend yourself farther than you think you can, by the grace of God, through the strength of God.
#4: Forgive one another.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. -Luke 6:35-36 NKJV
Sister, we don’t deserve forgiveness from the Most High, yet He gives it to us through the blood of Christ. How can we not then extend that same forgiveness to others in our lives?
The Lord calls you to extend mercy– to follow the ultimate example of His kindness– His mercy, even to those who are unthankful and continue to live a life separated from His forgiveness. You’ll encounter some who care nothing of your forgiveness; they’ll still be spiteful and hateful toward you. Yet, it’s not your job to change their hearts. It is your job to love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. You do this out of obedience to Him, not because you’re hoping to receive love and mercy back from the other person.
Remember, kindness expects nothing in return.
Bible Verses about Kindness
There are so many Bible verses about kindness. Here are a few to get you started. I encourage you to do your own reading, and find the stories of saints throughout Scripture that speak volumes of a life lived in kindness.
Psalm 31:21 NKJV
Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
Psalm 119:76 NKJV
Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant.
Proverbs 19:22 NKJV
What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.
Galatians 5:22 NKJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Ephesians 2:7 NKJV
…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:1-8 NKJV
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.
Romans 2:4 NASB
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Romans 11:22 CSB
Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you — if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
read more of the Godly Woman Wardrobe
5 Biblical Ways to Show Compassion
Showing compassion to others isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It will look different for each of us in every situation we encounter. Read Part 1 of The Godly Woman Wardrobe: Tender Mercies.
As women, we think a lot about what to wear, do we not? Sometimes, too much. We have certain outfits for different occasions; and certain accessories to go with those outfits. Once in a while, we even open up our closets, look at hangers of clothing and deem, we have nothing to wear. But, the amount of clothing we have isn’t everything. There are so many in this world who only have a few suitable outfits but can be dressed to perfection each and every day. No matter if our closets are full or not, what we put on spiritually is so much more important than the fashion we don on the outside.
It’s all about who we are in Christ.
In Christ,
We are the elect of God.
We are holy.
We are beloved.
Therefore...we can put on these traits that reflect Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit within us.
Colossians 3:10 states that once we’re in Christ, we have “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
In Christ, we have a renewed knowledge, whereas we are able to see, with the right perspective, who we are in Him. We’ve been created in the image of God, and finally, in Christ, our lens allows us to see ourselves and Him more clearly. Knowing these things, we can then decide (daily, not just once) to put on the characteristics of our new man– the characteristics that line up with Godly character.
I call this the Godly Woman Wardrobe. If you haven’t read the quick summary of all 7 pieces of the wardrobe, start here: 7 Things Every Christian Woman Should Wear.
Now, are you ready for your first outfit, sister?
Let’s dive into Tender Mercies.
What is Compassion?
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies… Colossians 3:12 NKJV
Tender mercies is a fancy way of saying compassion. The Hebrew and Greek words translated “compassion” in the Bible mean “to have mercy, to feel sympathy and to have pity.” Compassion is a necessary part of the Christian life. We weren’t meant to live on an island, only concerned with ourselves and our own affairs. We live in a broken world full of sin, and that sin brings pain, hurt, loss, and need. Whereas we can’t solve every problem in all of the world, the Lord doesn’t want us to be blind to what’s right in front of us either.
Compassion comes to life as we live out 1 Corinthians 13, fully embodying what Christ-like love looks like. We are kind; we show patience; we seek the welfare of others; we give others hope and endure with them.
When our eyes are open and we see others how the Lord sees them, we are able to slow down, step into their shoes, and seek Him for ways to help.
The Lord is our example. As the creator and master of compassion Himself– He is our guide. We only need to look to Him for ways to show compassion.
Examples of Compassion
We have so many examples of compassion in the Bible. How could we not? Our God is all-knowing, loving, patient, and powerful. He sees our needs and hears the cries of those who call to Him (Nehemiah 9:9-10).
“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
Just as when your child is tired, you are more patient, you understand their unruly behavior a bit better, and you don’t expect too much of them— this is God's way with us. In His wisdom, although He knows the end from the beginning, He remembers our lowly state, that we are but dust, and has compassion on us in our times of suffering, lamenting, sorrow, weariness, and grief.
As we do with our own kids, He remembers that we too are but children— His children. In our frailty, weakness, and stumbles, He has mercy and compassion. It’s almost beyond our understanding and comprehension– the amount of compassion He has toward us.
This compassion comes to those who fear Him— the reverential fear of the Lord. It’s for those who love Him and call Him Father; for His daughters, those of us who are in Christ: holy, beloved, and the elect of God.
Jesus, being 100% both God and Man, in having the character of God, not only had the Father-like compassion described here, but as Son of Man, He was able to sympathize and empathize with our weaknesses. He experienced and expressed this compassion during His time here on earth.
Remember that time He looked over the great crowd that was following Him, and He desired to teach them many things because in His compassion He saw they were like a sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34)?
Or, what about the time He came ashore and met a great crowd, immediately had compassion on them, and began to heal their sick (Matthew 14:14)?
And, perhaps one of the most relatable times Jesus showed compassion– when He was at Lazarus’s gravesite. Although He knew what He was about to do, He wept. (John 11:33-35).
We aren’t all-powerful like God, but sister, we do have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Following His lead, we too can show compassion to others in similar ways as we look upon their state, see their need, and allow God to use us to fill it.
Showing Compassion: 5 Biblical Ways
Showing compassion to others isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It will look different for each of us in every situation we encounter. But when we make the decision to live for the Lord on purpose we will seek ways to please Him, and one way to do that is to show care for those whom He created in ways He tells us to. Here are 5 biblical ways to show compassion:
#1: Comfort those who are going through what you’ve been through.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. -2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV
Our God is the God of all comfort. His love extends to the deepest depths of our soul, our grief, and our struggles. Because we experience His comfort in our times of need, we then have the framework for how we can give the same type of comfort to others.
Navigating our own struggles gives us the understanding, sympathy, and empathy needed to help someone else go through the same situation in the future. We can reach out to them appropriately, say the right words, or do what is most helpful to them because we have “been there, done that.” One of the greatest forms of compassion felt by another is the realization that someone “gets them” or understands.
Use your trials as the testimonies and “work experience” needed to guide someone who’s currently on a similar journey.
showing compassion: a look at Romans 12 (free download)
Being intentional in our actions yields a life that brings glory to God— but only when our actions line up with His Word! Romans 12 has so much wisdom for us in how to treat others and how to show compassion on a daily basis. Download your FREE copy featuring 25 ways to encourage, build up and show compassion to others. Fill out the form below.
#2: Compassion is shown by doing.
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. -1 John 3:17-18 NKJV
Oftentimes, much more good is done by doing, not by saying. We may not always have the right words, but we can have the right actions. When we see a need, we can step up and do something to help. It simply takes a watchful eye, a watchful heart, and the willingness to extend what we have (time, effort, money, possessions) to another person.
Let us not “shut up our hearts” from one another. Showing compassion is synonymous with showing God’s love.
#3: Don’t judge others for the situations they’re in.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. -Matthew 7:1-2 ESV
It’s easy to look at someone with a critical eye and judge their mistakes against your better judgment. We all are infallible humans who are tempted by a sinful world. We all have the free will to decide whether or not we will choose to walk by the Spirit in a moment. None of us choose perfectly 100% percent of the time.
Showing compassion means we step alongside a person and show them the love of God. We offer them the truth of the Word, encourage them to get back on track and help them see more clearly the path of wisdom if they’ve decided to deviate to foolishness.
Yes, we must stay on guard ourselves so we don’t fall into similar temptation, but at the same time, we offer grace, not judgment.
#4: Rejoice or weep with those who do likewise.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. -Romans 12:15 ESV
Live where they are. As sisters in Christ, the Lord implores us to be actively involved in each other’s lives. In the good times– be the person standing alongside your sister, cheering for her or with her. Rejoice in all things honorable and rejoiceable. And, in the hard circumstances and trials of life, hold up her arms, offer kind words, or be the shoulder on which she can cry. We need each other in all seasons of life. Be sure to show up. If nothing else, just show up.
#5: Keep your eyes open and follow the Lord’s lead.
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. -Mark 6:34
During Jesus’s time here on earth, one thing we can’t deny was that He noticed people– all the time, in every situation. The God who sees, still sees us today; and He desires that we see people too. Be a person who notices– the person alone, the one who is hurting, the friendless, and helpless. The child; the widow; the sick. It takes being perceptive and patient to see the need; then it takes prayer to know what action to take. In all these things we need to have our eyes wide open– looking above to heavenly things enough to know what the Lord would have us do according to His will (Colossians 3:1-2).
Showing compassion is a beautiful expression of a life lived for the glory of God. As we pursue Christ and His righteousness, we become more and more like Him. His desires become our desires, and therefore we become His hands and feet.
We just need to be usable. Be willing. Be loving.
Bible verses about compassion
There are so many Bible verses about compassion. Here are a few to get you started as you daily choose to put on tender mercies.
Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Galatians 6:2 NKJV
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Peter 3:8 NKJV
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
Psalm 86:15 NKJV
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Matthew 14:14 NKJV
And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
Be sure to read the rest of the 7-part Godly Woman Wardrobe series!
7 Truths About Good Works
Good works are a means by which we show the world that we are His. It is how we carry out the love of God in the world. Through our good works, we give others snippets of His grace, character, and righteousness. Read on for 7 other truths about good works.
Have you ever felt like you were doing the wrong thing? Or perhaps, maybe the right thing, but at the wrong time? Or even worse– the wrong thing at the wrong time? (Well, technically if it’s the wrong thing, it’s always done at the wrong time, right?!)
Beginning in my early twenties, I worked a full-time job. At the time, this is what I was called to do and it made sense for my life. Yet, as I got married and we began having children, I knew my calling was to be a stay-at-home mom. In fact, I knew this was my calling from a very early age, long before I was married with children. But as I was in the thick of my career, and our household spending wasn’t getting to be any less with the addition of children in our family, I didn’t believe leaving my full-time job made sense.
Maybe I didn’t. But God…
God, of course, in His omniscience, knew what was best for my family. He knew He would provide even when I thought I needed to continue to provide. He knew He would be faithful to us, even if I lacked a little trust.
Sister, we serve a God who has prepared good works for us that we should walk in them. The beauty is that there are some good works we may know and be aware of for a long time, and others He reveals to us as life goes on. Nevertheless, our job is to be sensitive to the Lord’s promptings in our life and obedient to His calling.
Let’s dive into 7 truths about good works, from a biblical perspective.
#1: Good works are not a means to salvation.
Before we dive into some observations about what good works are, let’s first talk about what good works are not. Specifically, the one main thing they are not– a means to salvation.
Rather, good works are a means by which we show the world we are saved– we are His. It is how we carry out the love of God in the world. Through our good works, we give others snippets of His grace, character, and righteousness.
Our salvation is a free gift– there’s no barter and trade, no form of payment on our end, and nothing we can do to earn it.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ”
Free things aren’t earned, right? They are freely given out of love. This is in fact what the Lord has done. In His great love for us, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He paid; not us.
Our works pay nothing towards our salvation; it’s not like we’re racking up reward points every time we do something for the Kingdom! Sister, our good works are simply the way we carry out the Lord’s will for our lives; and, when we do them with an obedient and submitted heart, our good works bring Him glory.
Now that we’ve gotten that super important detail out of the way, let’s look at a few more things the Bible says about good works.
#2: We are His good work.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s workmanship. Workmanship can be defined as the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making. Something created poorly would be said to be created out of poor workmanship. However, knowing Who our God is, that everything He created is good, and the fact that He intricately knitted us together in our mothers’ wombs– we can rest assured that His workmanship doesn’t contain an ounce of “bad.” Therefore, know you are perfectly and wonderfully made, a good work– a unique design by Him.
#3: He does good work in us.
Since we are His creation, His good work, it should be no surprise that His good work within us didn’t cease the day we were born. As the One who holds all things together, He continues to not only sustain us but to work in us in order that we would desire same the things He does, as well as live unto Him, for His glory (Philippians 2:13). Through Christ in our lives, He continues to work in us and will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:16).
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. ”
Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world that has been corrupted by sin. But God in His goodness works in us to mold us to be more like Christ, calling us to put off the old, corrupt ways manifest in things like anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language (Colossians 3:8-11). And through that good work in us, He helps us to put on things like tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and the ability to bear with one another, and forgive one another (Colossians 3:12-14).
He chips away at us, with the Spirit as our guide, leading us to walk in the Spirit and exhibit His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). You see, sister, these are lifelong things that require obedience and diligence on our part, but we don’t do it alone. Through His ongoing good work in us, we are able to be more like Him.
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#4: Our good works were prepared beforehand.
Because God knit us together in our mother’s womb and He knows all of our days (Psalm 139:13-16), He knows us.
Ephesians 2:10, after telling us that we are His workmanship, goes on to say that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
He has plans for us and has a will for our lives. The things He desires for us to do in our lifetime were known to Him and prepared for us long ago. These are beautiful things that fit into His grand plans and purposes; things that bring value to others and glory to Him.
Our good works are important to Him because we are important to Him.
Therefore, we must be mindful that the good works we are doing are actually the good works that the Lord planned for us! There are many good things we can do in this life, but if they are of our own account, based on our desires, and not the Lord’s– we’re striving in vain.
So, how do we know the good works He’s prepared for us?
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#5: We must prepare our hearts in order to carry out our good works.
Knowing the good works God has prepared for us begins with us humbly bowing before Him with a heart of submission; an attitude that says, “You are God and I am not.” From here, as we allow the Spirit to convict us, we are able to see ourselves for who we are and turn from the things that don’t line up with the Lord.
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Idols and sin in our lives will impede us from fully communing with the Lord; and, when we are disconnected from the Lord, His will for our lives is foggy– perhaps even unknown. When we aren’t sure of His will, how can we know the good works He wants us to do?
Sister, let’s purpose to flee from the things that trip us up and ensnare us, and instead pursue Him and pursue righteousness. This is where His truth lies– and where His will for us becomes clear.
#6: The Lord equips us for our good works.
Have you ever been a little scared or hesitant to do something you know the Lord was calling you to do? A handful of years ago, my husband and I were called into youth ministry at our church. In the beginning, I’ll admit– I didn’t have much of a desire to be a part of this ministry. Our own kids were very young, and the last time I’d spoken at length with a teenager was when I was a teenager!
I felt out of place, ill-equipped, and unsure of how to relate. Yet, I believed God was calling me to play a role in this ministry; so, I made the decision to trust the Lord despite my feelings.
In that trust, I found that I didn’t have to strive to do this good work. Little by little, His equipping came in bite-sized pieces, as I needed it. As I sought Him and allowed Him to lead me, He worked in me to give me a heart for this age group, and a love for each of the teens we ministered to. He gave me words to speak to relate to them and get to know them. He provided all I needed to get started in these unchartered waters in my life, and He provides today as we continue to lead the ministry.
When we seek God and become attuned to His will for our lives, He fills us with spiritual wisdom and understanding. Take a look:
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
”
This is literally my personal experience in serving our youth group! His spiritual wisdom and understanding, through His counsel and His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) in turn, allow us to carry out our good works in a way that is pleasing to Him, which is pleasing to Him (big picture). This is how we “walk worthy.”
#7: Others are to see our good works.
Sister, there is beauty in the good works He has prepared for us. As we take part in them, following His lead to walk them out in a way that is pleasing to Him, they shine forth for all to see. And rightfully so, as He indeed calls us to be a light in this dark world, shining in a way that people may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
As women, 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says that we should adorn ourselves with good works– not being concerned with our outward appearance as a means of beauty. Our godliness comes from who we are in Him and the way we exude His righteousness, not by our looks.
RELATED: Being a Woman of Incorruptible Beauty
Yet, a caution for us all: Although our good works should be evident for others to see, we should not do them to bring eyes to ourselves. As Matthew 5:16 says, our good works are a way for others to see the magnificence of God so they can glorify Him.
bible verses
Bible verses about good works.
bible verses about good works
Let me share with you a few Bible verses about good works. May they encourage you and remind you that as long as you are stepping into that which you are called– the things that have been prepared by God for you– you will have His peace.
Galatians 6:9 NASB
Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NASB
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
Philippians 2:13 NASB
For it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.
Hebrews 13:20-21 NASB
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Having an Attitude of Hospitality
Showing hospitality isn’t as complicated as we may think. Whether inside or outside your home, it’s important that we get our attitude right first. From there, following the Lord’s guidance, hospitality can be as easy as 1-2-3.
You know the feeling of being the “new person”— when you walk into a room and you don’t know anyone; or maybe you’re in a new place and you’re not quite sure what to do or where to go? Think about one of those experiences right now. Do you remember how you felt?
Awkward?
Unseen?
Or, maybe too seen (Hey everybody, look— who’s that??)
I consider myself to be an introverted extrovert. I love meeting new people and making new friends, but I need help to break into already-established groups and friendships. Honestly, I don’t enjoy being the one who doesn’t know anyone, or the one everyone wants to ask a million questions of in an effort to get to know (that part mainly stems from the fact that I don’t care to be the center of attention!).
Yet, as much as I don’t like being the center of attention, what I like even less is feeling invisible.
Not noticed, unapproached, or ignored.
Even those who aren’t huge fans of a ton of people interaction throughout the day don’t want to be completely forgotten about or unseen all the time.
I can think of a handful of experiences I’ve had where this has happened. I was in a place where I knew no one, and no one seemed to care to know me. It wasn’t the best of times.
In these moments, what we’re looking for is hospitality– an attitude of hospitality. And the good news is, sister, this attitude is something each and every one of us can possess if we’re willing.
What is hospitality?
A basic definition of hospitality is the act of being friendly and welcoming to guests and visitors. Normally when we think of the word hospitality, we think of inviting someone into our home, offering them a drink, snack, or meal, and making them feel welcome. Or perhaps, we think of what is known as the hospitality industry– hotels and places that are in the business of welcoming guests and visitors to the highest degree of comfort.
But, let’s not be too overly zealous, sister. This may not be us. If not, good news– we don’t have to have the ultra-clean home and amazingly-stocked fridge that’s ready to take on anyone at any time. Truth be told, I don’t particularly like uninvited guests! I don’t like the feeling of being unprepared, only having water and a handful of Goldfish crackers left to offer a visitor. It makes me feel inadequate.
You see, sister– herein lies the problem. If you are like me and the thought of always needing to be ready and willing to have people over causes you any amount of stress or thoughts of inadequacy, you’re overthinking hospitality.
Hospitality isn’t perfection. It’s not having all the right foods. It’s not having the comfiest guest room. If you do have all of these things– that’s amazing! But, those aren’t the only things that make hospitality.
Hospitality is an attitude. It is a willingness to be open, welcoming, friendly, and available (yes, sometimes to strangers and uninvited guests!).
It’s following the Lord’s leading to invite someone into your world– whether that is via your home or your heart.
And, with the Lord’s help, we can all bear that attitude.
Hospitality in the Bible
There are numerous examples of those who showed hospitality in the Bible. Let’s briefly look at three.
Lydia
Lydia was a woman who was said to be a worshiper of God. Upon hearing Paul speak, her heart was opened by the Lord and she responded to what Paul was preaching. The next thing you know, she and her household were baptized and she invited Paul and his companions to stay with her (Acts 16:14-15). Strangers. Men she didn’t know. Undoubtedly, she was led by the Lord to open her heart and her home to these people who had just blessed her with the Truth.
Abraham
Of course, we can’t forget about Abraham’s measure of hospitality as seen in Genesis 18, when he is visited by three men, one of who is the Lord. At the time of their arrival, Abraham was resting in the heat of the day; yet, he immediately rose up and invited them to stay.
“Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. ”
He offered them water to wash their feet, a place to rest, bread, and a meal to eat. There was no second thought; no hesitation. Again, there was a trusting attitude of submission to the Lord that was apparent in the way that he treated these guests.
Boaz
Or how about the way Boaz showed hospitality to Ruth as he allowed her to glean in his fields? This ordinary gesture of kindness yielded extraordinary results in the life of Boaz, Ruth, and their entire family line, which traces down to Jesus!
As is evident from these examples of hospitality in the Bible, we can’t do it without His lead and guidance. We shouldn’t do it without His lead and guidance either!
HOSPITALITY: AN ATTITUDE TO LIVE BY (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Living on purpose and being intentional in our actions yields a life that brings glory to God— but only when our actions line up with His Word! Romans 12 has so much wisdom for us in how to treat others, whether we’re “entertaining strangers” or friends! Download your FREE copy featuring 25 ways to encourage, build up and show hospitality to others. Fill out the form below.
An attitude of hospitality
Hospitality is most clearly seen and recognized in the forms we just spoke about— inviting someone into your home; having someone over for coffee or a meal. Again, we can find many instances of hospitality in the Bible that give us this clear representation of such a beautiful thing. I’m even including some Bible verses about hospitality below so you can do some further reading!
However, right now, I’d like to circle back and focus specifically on hospitality as an attitude. In other words, outside of the many facets and ways we can go about being hospitable by bringing people into our homes, how can we show hospitality in a way that simply invites people into our hearts, expecting nothing in return?
3 simple ways to show hospitality
These steps aren’t complicated, sister! Even for an introverted extrovert like me, they are doable, not too intimidating, and with the Lord’s help, very effective at showing His love and kindness in a practical sort of way.
#1- Seek out the newbie.
When you’re in a place of familiarity— church, at your child’s school event, or extracurricular activities— look for what’s unfamiliar. The newest person in the room simply wants to be seen. Go out of your way to say hello, offer a smile, and a friendly greeting. What may seem like a simple gesture from you will be much appreciated (and remembered) by them.
#2- Put yourself in their shoes.
Think about what you’d want someone to say to you if you were the new person in the room. Invite them to sit with you; introduce them to your circle of friends; or, show them where they should go to check in, grab a coffee, use the restroom, or speak to the person in charge.
Remember, when we’re in new places, our senses immediately go into overdrive– we’re checking out all the people, the sounds, the environment, and trying to read the room— all at the same time. It can be overwhelming! Be the one who helps to calm their overwhelm by simply being available to assist them in navigating unchartered waters.
#3- Help them to feel like they belong.
Once you’ve helped your new acquaintance get settled, invite them to join you in a conversation with your friends; instead of pointing them in the direction of the coffee area, walk over with them; or, introduce your kids to their kids. Make a point to get to know them as soon as you can and help them to get to know you. People want to be seen and heard, but not by a “robotic welcome committee”. They want to know that there’s a chance that you could become real, authentic friends– so begin that way.
RELATED: Creating Community Among Sisters
do you have the attitude?
The beautiful thing about hospitality– whether inside or outside of your home– is that it creates the opportunity for the stranger to become a friend; for the unfamiliar to become familiar; and for the newbie to become one of the crew.
Again, sister, this attitude begins with us seeking the Lord and being obedient to what He wants us to do in the moment. If we aren't seeking Him, there’s a good chance we’ll neglect opportunities to show His love, grace, and kindness to others. Even if we’re quiet, reserved, and a little unsure of what to say– if the Lord is in it, He’ll direct your steps and your words. And, He deserves all the glory anyway!
Bible verses about hospitality
Need a little more inspiration (or motivation) to get out there and be hospitable? Rest assured, the Lord desires for us to show hospitality, so you know He’s going to equip us along the way! Here are a few Bible verses about hospitality to save and remember.
1 Peter 4:9-10 NKJV
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Hebrews 13:1-2 NASB
Let love of the brothers and sisters continue. Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Luke 14:13-14 NASB
But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind; and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Genesis 19:2 NASB
And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.”
Genesis 18:2-5 NASB
When he raised his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and make yourselves comfortable under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, so that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.”
Acts 16:15 NASB
Now when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
2 Kings 4:8-10 NASB
Now a day came when Elisha went over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she urged him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, that he turned in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I am aware that this is a holy man of God passing by us repeatedly. Please, let’s make a little walled upper room, and let’s set up a bed for him there, and a table, a chair, and a lampstand; then it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”
Romans 12:13 NASB
…contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Be faithful to what the Lord is calling you to do, sister! In that, who knows…you may find your next best friend! +Live on purpose+
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7 Reasons to Glorify God
Mary was humble, submitted, and trusted the Lord at His word. She had incredible faith. But, this isn’t about Mary. Mary’s Magnificat is of course about the Lord. And, there is much that we can learn about glorifying God in these few verses.
Big news can be exciting; it can also be troubling. I remember receiving troubling news about this time last year. It was unexpected and left me flabbergasted, to say the least. It brought along with it many emotions, some being sadness and anxiety.
Going through tough times is hard. But, you know what? Even exciting news can bring anxiousness and feelings of uncertainty for the future. We’re not sure how things will turn out, and will the journey will take us.
Or, perhaps the anxiety comes because we’re not sure what will happen to us along the way.
But God. Even in the uncertainty, He continually gives us reason to bring Him glory.
One such girl we’re all familiar with, who knew how to glorify God despite the circumstances, is Mary in the Bible– the mother of Jesus. When given the biggest news one could possibly imagine, this young and humble servant did less fretting and more glorifying. We see this displayed beautifully in Mary’s Magnificat.
What is Mary’s Magnificat?
The Magnificat is Mary’s song–or poem and prayer of praise– and can be found in Luke chapter 1. Upon visiting her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with a boy who would later be known as John the Baptist, Mary becomes overjoyed with what the Lord is doing in her life.
You see, not long before visiting Elizabeth, the angel Gabriel had come to Mary and told her that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and give birth to a Son, and his name would be Jesus. Overwhelmed, no doubt, yet humbly submitted to this news, we see Mary respond in faith, trusting in the Lord (Luke 1:26-38).
As she meets with Elizabeth, who is filled with the Holy Spirit, baby John the Baptist leaps in her womb, and she blesses Mary for her faith.
It’s at this point that Mary begins to glorify God by singing her praises to Him. It is a beautiful piece of Scripture; so impactful, in fact, that I want to share it here:
“And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is to generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has given help to His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
Just as He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.””
God is in the business of doing the unexpected.
There is so much that we can take away from Mary and her attitude as she is faced with this life-changing news. And, not simply news that is life-changing, but all that would transpire for the remainder of her life because of the One to come– the One she’d hold dearly in her arms as a little baby, who would one day spread his own arms on a cross as our Savior.
This was likely nothing like she expected her life to turn out to be. Yet, isn’t that our God? He seems to be in the business of doing the unexpected. His ways are higher than ours– therefore we can’t even fathom what He can or will do in our lives. I think that is one reason why it is easy to glorify God. If we could figure it all out on our own and coordinate things to transpire for all to see and be astounded by, we wouldn’t think that He is so awesome.
But we can’t; we can’t even begin to formulate and orchestrate our world in a way that makes total sense 100% of the time. Therefore, our job is to simply trust in Him and obey.
This is what we see in Mary. She was humble, submitted, and trusted the Lord at His word. She had incredible faith.
But, this isn’t about Mary. Mary’s Magnificat is of course about the Lord. And, there is much that we can learn about glorifying God in these few verses.
RELATED: Trusting God in All Circumstances
7 Reasons to Glorify God
To glorify God means that we give Him the honor and praise that He is due. We acknowledge His worth, majesty, and greatness.
Obviously, there are many more than seven reasons to glorify God! As we study His Word and sit at His feet, in His presence, He reveals more of His character to us. As we bow in worship to Him, He reveals more facets of all He is; and the more He reveals to us, the more we desire to worship Him. It’s a never-ending cycle, sister!
Nevertheless, looking through the eyes of Mary’s Magnificat and other supporting Scriptures, here are seven reasons to glorify God.
#1: He is mighty and strong.
The word used for mighty means powerful, able, or strong. It implies excellence and the ability to be able to do something. In this case, speaking regarding the Lord, He can do anything– including bless a young lady’s life with the honor of carrying the Savior of the world.
Mary recognized the greatness of God, undoubtedly, prior to this moment; yet, she stated it so plainly and perfectly in her Magnificat.
The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. -Psalm 50:1 NASB
Do we recognize the mightiness of God, sister– specifically, in our own lives? Are we aware of how He is holding all the strings together, orchestrating our lives, and doing the unexpected?
#2: He is holy.
The Lord is worthy to be praised. He is exalted, perfect, and just. To revere the Lord as holy means that we recognize that there is no match to Him– no one holds the same level of majesty as He. We can’t measure up, and outside of having Jesus in our hearts, we aren’t even worthy to approach His throne.
There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God. -2 Samuel 2:2 NASB
There is nothing anyone can do that would surpass what the Lord has done, continues to do, and will do for us. Like Mary in her Magnificat and Hannah’s words from 2 Samuel 2:2, both singing praises to the Lord for what He’s done in their lives related to children– see Him for who He truly is. Not only mighty and strong but the holiest of all that is holy.
#3: God raises up His humble servants.
Mary. Gideon. David.
So many others we could name in the pages of Scripture– these humble, unassuming servants who were simply caught “just doing their job.” Their job of being faithful to the Lord, believing and trusting in Him.
For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. -2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB
And, the Lord snatched them up. Not because they were mighty, great, holy, and strong. No– simply because their hearts were completely His.
He is watching us, sister. More than anything, He desires our full surrender. He doesn’t need us to rise up on our own and make a name for ourselves. In our worship of Him and obedience to Him, He will mold our lives as He wills, placing us in the situations and circumstances where we can glorify Him the most.
Glorify God: Remember He is Trustworthy
The Lord is sovereign and totally in control. We have no reason not to trust Him, yet in our flesh and our human nature, oftentimes we don’t. We all need a little help.
Fill out the form below to receive your FREE printable: Bible Verses About Trusting God. Hang it on the fridge, tape it to your mirror, tuck it in your Bible, or put it in your daily planner to remind you to trust in the Lord!
#4: He delights in doing good things for those who love Him.
The only reason we have any idea how to give good gifts to those we love is that giving good things is part of God’s character. He is in the business of not only providing for us but providing for us well.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. -Psalm 84:11 NASB
Did you catch that, sister? He doesn’t withhold. Even if we don’t see it as good right away, or quite understand it, we can rest assured that Romans 8:28 is in fact the truth of His word, and all will turn out to be good.
#5: He gives mercy to those who fear Him.
When we place our fear– our reverence of Him– in the correct place, we gain the right perspective. We seek His face and find his goodness, grace, and character. We fall more deeply in love with Him. In Psalm 40:11, David says that God’s mercy and truth continually watch over him. God sustains those who fear Him; those who love Him.
In God’s mercy, He doesn’t give us what we deserve; instead, He gives us ultimate forgiveness and so many good things. How could we not glorify God for this alone?
Perhaps Mary wanted to sing her praises to the Lord as she thought about what lay ahead in her journey of being with child– the shame that could come; the difficulties. She knew in the deepest depths of her soul that the Lord would provide incredible grace and mercy in her life.
#6: He brings down the proud and scatters them in their own thoughts.
We know that pride goes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18). It’s a path of foolishness and provides us with the opportunity to sit on our own thrones instead of revering the Mighty One on His throne.
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. -James 4:6 NASB
Mary was in fact a humble servant, or the Lord would not have chosen her to carry the Savior of the world. Yet, in this wonderful honor, there was plenty of space for Mary to turn to pride. After all, she was carrying the Savior of the world.
Like Mary, we should be mindful to not let pride trickle in when the Lord chooses to use us. Otherwise, we’ll get lost in our thoughts, thinking only about how great, mighty, and holy we think we are. In our prideful thoughts, we lose sight of God.
And, in our prideful minds, there is no room to glorify God.
It seems evident by what we know about the remainder of Mary’s life that this wasn’t an issue with her. I pray that it wouldn’t become an issue with us either; and if it does, I pray that we’d be swiftly torn down in order for the Lord to build us back up.
#7: He helps those who are His.
The Lord never leaves or forsakes us. No matter the circumstances, the Lord promises to be with those He loves and who love Him. He sees us through.
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. -Psalm 33:20 NASB
When we need help, do we look to ourselves, or to the Lord? He should be our primary source of support. Instead of scurrying to manipulate our circumstances, we can be like Mary and the Psalmist and recognize that we can wait upon the Lord because He indeed is our shield and helps His people.
Mary knew she would need help from God for what she was about to experience, and in her Magnificat, she was able to express to Him that she knew He would be her help.
Do we reckon with this truth for ourselves, sister? Do we believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, that no matter what, He is our help?
“And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
Mary’s Magnificat can be ours too
We can glorify God just as strongly as we see in Mary’s Magnificat. Her song can be our song of praise as well. Our lives look drastically different from hers, yes, but our God is still the same. He is still mighty, holy, and strong. He still helps those He loves. He does the unexpected in our lives and delights in doing good things for us.
We don’t have to be poetic or gifted songwriters to glorify God, sister. We can glorify Him out loud for our present company to hear, as Mary did; or, we can do it within the quietness of our soul. The point is, we can and we should remember who He is at all times, and not shy away from letting our soul rejoice in that.
Praise His holy name.
Waiting is seldom easy. In fact, it can be downright difficult. But, it’s always possible. I know it doesn’t feel that way at the moment, but let’s take our feelings…