Day 102 "Walking In Humility"

Here is a simple lesson to meditate on: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less." This little saying has helped me many times to refocus my attention away from myself and place it where God's Spirit desires it to be- on the best interest of others.

Throughout the bible, the message of love is pretty clear. In the Old Testament, it is about God's continuous love for his people despite the people's rejection of God. In the New Testament, it is all about Jesus Christ, God's loving provision for man to reconcile man back into a relationship with himself. Through Christ, God's one and only Son, our sins are completely forgiven through the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross. But Jesus came to earth not only to save us from our sins but to also to teach us and demonstrate for us what it means to love.

To be able to think of yourself less is to be able to take one's focus off of self and place it elsewhere. Not so easy, is it? Here one of the keys to being able to do it: the more confident and secure you are in yourself, the less is the need for affirmation and confirmation from others of who you are as a person. Most of us are constantly trying to reinforce ourselves and be affirmed by others. One word rarely heard, if ever, within ourselves, in this constantly striving effort of ours to be fully accepted by others, is "enough." Like being on an endless road with no ultimate destination in mind, we constantly try to catch that proverbial rabbit that is always just outside our grasp.

Truth be known, we already have everything we need to arrive at such a destination. It is to be found in God's unconditional love and total acceptance of us, just as we are. In God's love, there is no striving to earn what he has already given us. There are no riches left to accumulate for he has already made us his children and co-heirs with Christ on a spiritual basis. Our future beyond this life has already been procured and secured for all eternity. God helps us to see ourselves as he see us. Once we are able to do that, we can finally take our eyes off of ourselves and place them on others.

All the social problems and inequalities that we see and experience in this life can be boiled down to a couple of factors: our insecurities and our selfishness. Love conquers these. And once conquered, life is about learning to live each and every moment in love. I believe you will find no other purer motive to guide you through life than "to love." When Christ was asked by the religious leaders of his time, "What is the greatest of all the commandments?" Jesus simply responded for the whole world and all of eternity to hear:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hand on these two com-

mandments." Matthew 22:37-40

I think it's worth taking notice that Jesus didn't just give the greatest commandment but added another willingly. For without the second, we would find ourselves in a constant struggle with one another. Love sets us free. Not just from ourselves, but also from one another. Love takes away our fears. When there is no fear left to hinder us and hold us back, we become free to voluntarily care for the well-being of others.

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Love sets us free from ourselves to hear God's voice and and be lead by his Spirit, no longer held captive by your own.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

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While our focus is grounded only to this world, we will continue to look around us through worldly lenses and see only that which affects this world. We will continue to be tethered to one another for our self esteem and personal security.

It is only when we allow ourselves to be set free from our earthly bondage

will be able to see a greater vision greater than ourselves. Jesus came to free us

from ourselves. Humility is being secure enough in your own skin to start focusing more on the needs and wants of others. And that is when real life begins and when you will experience real peace and rest for your soul.

In his love, see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love (Seize the moment in love"