Heart ChecksSample

Be Humble

Jesus teaches the Sermon on the Mount right as His ministry is beginning. It’s home to The Lord’s Prayer along with a number of parables. He kicks everything off with the Beatitudes—eight heart checks to help us walk in Jesus’ perspective and power. Jesus is ultimately saying, “This is what life with Me can and should look like.” It’s in the Beatitudes Jesus teaches His disciples—and us—how we can live a truly blessed life, even in a world filled with trouble.

In Matthew 5:3, we read “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This first Beatitude is the foundation for every other Beatitude Jesus gives us. Without being poor in spirit, we cannot live out any other Beatitude. Jesus is declaring, “If you want to experience My kingdom and live within My rule and reign, My power, My healing, My direction, My protection, and My happiness, then you must be poor in spirit.”

Jesus is not saying we are to live in financial poverty—but instead He’s emphasizing an attitude of humility. A humble person often has a unique perspective on life. They have a desperation for God—they are hungry for His help, direction, and blessing. They have an openness to God, and live teachable. They find their security in God. They’re not self-reliant and over-confident. They don’t rely on, nor boast of their own strength, power, and ingenuity to get by.

Humility is the starting point to realizing Christ’s perspective, attitude, and character and ultimately leads to blessing and happiness. It means checking my lofty-minded attitude at the door. Christ’s attitude—His mind—is ours for the taking! We need only to choose it by humbling ourselves.

So, the question is—when the pressures of life come upon us, are we going to exude Christ’s character of humility and resolve—or the worldly responses of pride, arrogance and self-reliance? Humility starts from our heart and we walk it out practically as we daily ask a few questions. Here are Three Questions to ask Jesus:

1. Jesus, what do You want for me?
2. What can I do for others?
3. What’s my first step of obedience?

When we walk in obedience, the right attitude turns into action. This opens the door for Christ’s character to be formed in us and revealed to the world. Friends, to Be Happy, the starting point is to Be Humble.

Today’s heart check: Am I leaning on God’s strength—or my own?

After you reflect, bring everything to God in prayer.