The Road Less Traveled - a Lent Journey for TeensSample

How do we do this?

How do we take the way of humility? Jesus says we should be humble and that we should humble ourselves. How do we do live humbly? The good news is there are ways to practice this, and these ways become clear from this week’s parable.

Reread the parable in Luke 18:9-14. Take a close look at the tax collector and how he prays.

The first thing he does is admit his sinfulness and how dependent he is upon God. By confessing this, he receives forgiveness. The first thing you can do to grow in humility is be truthful with yourself and admit your sinfulness to God. This is not something we find easy to do, but it’s certainly something we can grow in.

Secondly, he does not compare himself to others. What happens when you compare yourself to others? You feel prideful because you think you are better than them. Or you feel depressed. Why depressed? Because you feel they are much better than you. You feel worthless. By not comparing yourself to others, you do not get stuck in this cycle of pridefulness and depression. You simply realize your worth is a gift from God, and you are free to be just you.

Thirdly, the tax collector does not look down on anyone. He sees himself the same as everyone else.

You, too, can practice this in your life. You can grow in your dependence on God and your love for the people around you. When you realize you are comparing yourself to others – stop and think about it for a moment. How does comparing yourself to others make you feel? Ask Jesus to show you how much you are worth. You, too, can see the worth and uniqueness of those around you.

Exercise:

Which one of these practices would you like to try today? Choose one, and tonight when you go to bed, reflect on your experience.