Humble Yourself and Pray

Last week while I was in Guatemala on a mission trip, I jotted down a note for a blog entry.  The note just said “Humble yourself and pray.”  At the time, I didn’t really know what I would write about.  It was just a thought that made an impression on me.

Yesterday I became frustrated with God.  June is coming to a close, and I still don’t have a signed contract with an audit client.  I am currently negotiating a contract with a client, but it’s moving slowly.  I’ve been so close to major deals several times, thinking they were God’s provision, and they’ve fallen through.  I started reminding God how much I want and need to get back to work, and I started complaining to Him that I don’t understand why He’s making us go through this dry spell.  After all, we’ve always tried to be faithful in giving of our time and resources.  He has always provided abundantly for us, and I want Him, rather I expect Him to do it again. 

I Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our anxieties on God, because he cares for us.  Andy Stanley was explaining last Sunday that God says, “Bring it on.  Tell me about your cares, your desires, your anxieties.  I want to hear them because I care about you.”  Today, I read the other verses in this passage:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 

Be sober minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”  - I Peter 5:6-11 ESV

I realized that instead of humbling myself before God, I had become arrogant with him.  We can tell God about our cares, our desires, our anxieties.  But we need to do so with a humble spirit.  At the proper time he will exalt us.

Humble yourself and pray.