fully dressed?

This morning GOD and I were having a conversation: it was more like the middle of the night. During this time, I believe He showed me a beautiful picture to strive for. He then confirmed it today in staff prayer.

I think we all understand the idea of the proud being humbled. Not only is it a concept that is described over and over in the Bible (Psalm 18:27, Job 22:29, Isaiah 13:11) it is something we see daily in our world. Sometimes it takes on the form of a corporate mogul who ends his reign in a humiliating crash, and a move star who once was on top but ends their life in an overdose on a sidewalk where people just pass him by.

In our own lives, being humbled can look like a teacher calling us out in class and us not knowing the answer cuz in our pride, or laziness or whatever, we didn't do the homework assignment the night before. I know for me it also often looks like complete failure after taking on more responsibilities than I can handle, but in my pride I thought I could.

And it can also just be the rude, arrogant person, getting what's theirs. Or at least that's how we like to define it. Whatever the cause of the humblement, we know that when it is forced upon us, it is never something we enjoy and generally brings about pain.

None of want to be humbled, yet humility is something that we are told to strive for. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

That is the beautiful picture GOD was showing to me today: The difference between being humbled and humbling yourself. When we are humbled it isn't pleasant and is a result of some unwise choice, but when we choose to humble ourselves before GOD. . . is there any wiser choice?

Looking back at some of the greats of our faith like David, Moses, Deborah, Esther and Paul; they knew how to humble themselves before the LORD. They had an understanding and a grasp of the awesomeness that is our GOD.

In scripture whenever someone comes face to face with the glory of GOD, they fall down from the full assuredness that they are unworthy to be in His presence. One of my favorite and most breathtaking examples of this is Isaiah 6 1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Hovering around him were mighty seraphim, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with the remaining two they flew. 3 In a great chorus they sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" 4 The glorious singing shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, "My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!" 6 Then one of the seraphim flew over to the altar, and he picked up a burning coal with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven." (emphasis added)

Wow, the greatness of GOD is so beyond our comprehension!! In His presence Isaiah was fully away of his inferiority compared to GOD.

But isn't that what happens every time we encounter the presence of GOD??

So the picture GOD gave me is a life lived so fully aware of the presence and majesty of GOD, that humility is chosen daily, hourly, with every decision. And in such a life, there is no need to be humbled because such humility is worn as a garment (as Col 3:12 describes). This is not an easy task, but I believe it only can come from always being away of the majesty of GOD and guarding ourselves against ANYTHING that would try and take our eyes of His beauty and perfection.

Imagine the beauty your life would be if you were so in tune and aware of the presence and greatness of GOD that you choose every day to put on humility because you know that is the only position you can take in light of Him. I'm not there, not by a long shot. But I beleive that through CHRIST my life can look more and more like this everyday.