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Usually everyday i read my last year's journal to remind myself where i was spiritually last year and often get blessed all over again with what God was saying to me. Today was one of those days when i discovered another entry about humility....

(I was listing people i admire and what about their lives spoke to me. God's response was this....)
Yes, you do need to see people from My perspective and notice their true self & how uniquely I've made each. You tend to judge what you don't like...I'm asking you to LET GO of that because it only elevates your pride - see My best in each one and you will come home to Me on My path of humility, grateful for your friends and they will feel My love for them through you.

Help me Papa! I want this to be a part of who I am, my truest self...open my eyes to see Your good in all Ii encounter....

Confession leads to humility because it says i have sins, weaknesses, limits. Humility is willing to say i am wrong and might be wrong. Confession leads to a teachable heart (as does humility) which leads to intimacy in relationships... nothing standing between you and me.... me and God.  Humility is being willing to forgive and be forgiven.

Having "intentional wings" means this is what i intend, desire, hope to do even though I know I can't do this perfectly, or without failure or without the enabling of God BUT it IS my intention, my desire...to continue to walk toward humility, to continue to try and "put it on"... knowing there is a "desperate surrender, trusting the Lord to undertake for me, the goal is still the high place, but the gear feels lighter... inherent in my intended wing is my acknowledged inadequacy and my high desire...but what i learn and what i say will become more and more a  reality in my mind and heart and action."   excerpt and thoughts taken from Pursue the Intentional Life by Jean Fleming.

Humility is going God's way and surrendering mine to discover His and what is truly my way.
To be meek means to have softened what is rigid within, to be like the fertile soil that receives nourishment from the rain, allowing it to seep deep down into its substance.  Christine Valters Paintner

The type of humility that admits you are wrong when you know you are wrong is confession. The humility that admits you might be wrong when you are pretty sure you are right is maturity. Without both types of humility, we become rigid and unteachable. Without both types of humility, relationships flounder and implode. Adele Ahlberg Calhoun  Invitations from God

Humility
Meekness, gentleness, down to earth
Unassuming, deferring, lamb-likeness
Wild stallion under control
Forbearance

Humility shows up at Downton Abbey

As I've watched (and loved) Downton Abbey, one thing that has impressed me is the humility between Bates and Lord Grantham. They are both eager to quickly take the low place - Grantham apologizing when he's in the wrong, even though he is the Lord and Bates no defending himself when he has a right to. I want to be like them, their integrity/humility draws me. I pray i can remember their example the next time i am wrong or want to defend myself... hard places to find myself in but the silver lining is it is an opportunity to practice (to put on, clothe myself with...Colossians 3:12 ) humility, just as Bates is putting on Lord Grantham's dinner jacket.

Humility comes through self-awareness, facing ourselves and seeing our weaknesses, selfishness, failure in work and personal relationships, our unworthiness. Christian humility comes from setting our life beside the life of Christ and in the light of the demands of God. Recognizing our utter dependence on God. Praus is the Greek word for humility meaning always angry at the right time but never angry at the wrong time..... one who is stirred by indignation at the wrongs and sufferings of others but is never moved to anger by any personal wrongs or insults...meek. It also refers to an animal trained and domesticated until its every instinct and passion is under perfect control (of its Master).  Bearing insult and injury without bitterness and without complaint. (reminds me of Jesus on the Cross)...the spirit which can suffer unpleasant people with graciousness and fools without irritation.... perfect patience, forbearance.  (all of this came from William Barclay's commentary on Ephesians 4:1-3)

I sensed God's whisper to me saying.... to become your truest self, which is both your and My desire is the way of humility and thus that is your 2014 word and one in which I will reveal much and do much transforming work. My truth for you is "the more you devote yourself to Me, the more freely you will be able to love others as i have loved you." I want you to enjoy the adventure of 2014...of finding yourself through losing yourself in Me...it will be an exciting through sometimes difficult and expanding journey that we will walk together...intimacy will be the result. As you receive My unbounded love for you, you will be able to walk in humility and my love will overflow from your heart onto others, all you meet...fruitfulness as you abide, make your home in, remain in Me. Never despise our time together, thinking you need to get on to more "productive" work. This is your one necessary thing...from this all will flow.

Humility is my way home
Unbound to accept my limitations
More of Jesus, less of me
I AM
Love in its rarest, rawest form
Imperfections embraced
Thresholds opened to newness, depth of life
Yahweh...breathe him in and out

Crossing the Threshold: New Year, New Beginning

Every year i ask God for a word or phrase of the new year that i can focus on throughout the year as an area of growth for me. This year i pondered many words: bliss, patience, waiting, hope, pause, savor, hospitality. But as i asked God to confirm a word, He gave me HUMILITY.... my advent prayer had been "birth something new in me this season...something radical." This is the word that shimmered... the word humility has a depth to it that begs to be explored, entered into. Right off the top of my head, it means embracing my imperfections and limitations, recognizing my neediness and being honest about how much i need to rely on God and not "do it myself."  As a "2" on the enneagram my vice or signature sin is pride... my virtue or way home to my true self is humility...so this is a fit for me.

As i wondered more about the deeper meaning of this word, i found what William Barclay had to say in his commentary on Ephesians 4:1-3 insightful.
"Humility comes through self-awareness, facing ourselves and seeing our weaknesses, selfishness, failure in work and personal relationships, our unworthiness. Christian humility comes from setting our life beside the life of Christ and in the light of the demands of God. Recognizing our utter dependence on God. Praus is the Greek word: always angry at the right time but never angry at the wrong time. One who is stirred by indignation at the wrongs and sufferings of others but is never moved to anger by any personal wrongs or insults... meek. Additionally it means an animal trained and domesticated until its every instinct and passion is under perfect control (of its master.) { Like a wild stallion who is "broken" so that it now is able to be useful in service to its master at the slightest touch of his finger on the reigns. my thoughts}   

It also means bearing insult and injury without bitterness and without complaint. The spirit which can suffer unpleasant people with graciousness and fools without irritation. Perfect patience, forbearance.

Whoa... looks like God knows i need to work on this word because there isn't much of this in me presently. I know i will never be able to accomplish this on my own, it will take deep dependence on Him to yield to His molding of my character in this way. God help me!!!!