HUMILITY=SURRENDER=FREEDOM

Do I want grace? Then I should pursue humility. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34 In all things I should place myself below others. "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3 This is not self-hatred. This is surrender. Surrender to the God who is far above all things. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 Our lives are but a vapor and we really are not in control. "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit." Proverbs 16:1-2

Should this depress me? Not if I have a proper view of myself compared to God. Focusing in on the Lord and all He has promised to be for me (see Romans 8:31-39) will make it simple to surrender myself to Him and not fear. It will free me from the petty games I play with myself - comparing, justifying, controlling. It will free me from myself and allow me to truly follow Him as He says in Luke 9:23 ~ "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."