"Humility is manifested in an indifference to our intellectual, emotional and physical well-being and a carefree disregard of the image we present. No longer concerned with appearing good, we can move freely in the mystery of who we really are, aware of the sovereignty of God and of our absolute insufficiency and yet moved by a spirit of radical self-acceptance without self-concern.
Humble people are without pretense, free from any sense of spiritual superiority, and liberated form the need to be associated with persons of importance. The awareness of their spiritual empitness does not disconcert them. Neither overly sensitive to criticism nor inflated by praise, they recognize their brokenness, acknowledge their gifts, and refuse to take themselves seriously." - Brennan Manning, from Ruthless Trust.
You know that statement about embarrassing your sin before it embarrasses you. It fits here. The more puffed up we allow ourselves to look, I think the more we better brace ourselves for the fall. That is where the liberation he talks about can come into play. How freeing to stop worrying about what other people think, and to bring our whole self and heart into the light of Christ - where all truth is revealed - and He loves us still.
When did the worry over the approval of men begin, Lord? Where does that hunger inside us for admiration come from? And how, in my flesh, can I truly mean it when I say - have all the glory - let YOUR NAME be lifted up and may I never receive the praise. Elizabeth Elliot talks a lot about dying moments. If this can be one moment, followed by many more - I might just make room for more of you.
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