Step Seven -- "Related" Scripture

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10) 

Once again, James is writing to Jewish non-believers, using a trope very commonly repeated in the Old Testament:

"And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:" (Numbers 29: 7)

Yet "humble yourselves" has different meanings for different people. Let's look at what the Bible says:

"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." (Deuteronomy 8: 3)

God humbled His people so that they would depend on Him, not to humiliate them or to leave them destitute.

Sadly, most people, including AA adherents, really believe that humility means feeling bad about ourselves and settling for second-best in our lives.

God refutes such empty arrogance:

"Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58: 5-6)

and

"Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your rule shall come down, even the crown of your glory." (Jeremiah 13: 18)

Humble yourselves -- sit down -- God wants us to rest in His word, trust in Him, believe Him. Numbers 29: 7 confirms this truth -- we deny ourselves when we stop striving in our efforts to get things.

The New Testament confirms that humility is a matter of rest and receiving God's power in our lives, by faith:

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

Stop fighting, stop trying to make yourself OK -- In Christ, you are accepted and perfected, working its way out in your mind, will, and emotions!