Have you ever wondered “if God has ‘already’ forgiven me, why do I need to ask Him to forgive me” as instructed in 1 John 1:9? Well, I believe it’s because there is a humbling of the heart when a person asks to be forgiven. A recognition that they have committed a wrong that needs to be made right. Only the perfect Blood of Jesus can make us right before God and only His shed blood was perfect enough to bring forgiveness to us. A proud heart will not recognize and admit their need of God, but a humble heart will recognize and admit their need for God and His Salvation. It’s the humble heart that receives from God.

We read in the Old Testament where Pharoah had a really rough time humbling himself before God. (Exodus 10:3) The true fact is that he never really did humble himself which then forced God to show His power. It reminds me of what Philippians 2:10 says: “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth.” Even though Jesus had not yet been born on this earth at the time of Pharoah, Jesus was with God. Jesus refers to himself as being one in the Father. (John 17:11, 21) John 1:1 also states that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And of course, we read in John 1:14 that the Word was made flesh – referring to Jesus.

Humility is an attitude that deflates pride. Pride always wants praise bestowed on itself. Pride is a conceited sense of one’s superiority. That attitude is what brought Lucifer to act in rebellion which resulted in him getting kicked out of heaven. He, nor anyone else is superior than God Almighty!

Luke 18:14 tells us that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. According to James 4:10  we are the ones who humble ourselves, and it’s God who does the exalting. It’s our responsibility to make the decision(s) to be humble; to change our attitude, our mind, and our actions. It’s our responsibility to submit our will to God’s will – just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:39) Then we find out why humbling ourselves is important in James 4:6  – so God can give us grace, for God resists the proud.

I’ve heard some refer to God’s grace as unmerited favor. The Merriam-Webster’s Desk Dictionary even describes grace as “unmerited help given to people by God.” Having favor indicates being treated gently, carefully, an approval, acceptance, and help. Merit means to earn or deserve, so unmerited means we can’t earn, nor do we deserve, God’s grace and favor. BUT the Bible tells says that by Jesus we are made acceptable to God. (Romans 14:18) God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and favor are unmerited and therefore cannot be earned. We don’t deserve them, but by faith in Jesus, and obedience to the Word of God, we can receive them. A person of humility before God will always strive to obey the commands of God. A humble person will learn to agree with the Lord Almighty of the Universe.