Why is Humility Important? 5 Inspiring Benefits of Humility and Prayers to Become Humble
Why is humility important? Does being humble affect our faith, relationships, and personal growth?
Let’s take a look at the immeasurable benefits of humility and its positive affect on our faith and relationships.
In High School, I loved Candie’s shoes and admired everyone wearing them. I saved my money for months until I had enough to buy a pair of wooden-soled clogs with a single brown leather strap.
I wore those clogs proudly; and thought I finally fit in with the other fancy girls in high school.
But one day those highly coveted, impractical shoes turned on me.
Rushing up the stairs and heading to class, one of the clogs slipped off my foot, sending me tumbling to the bottom of the stairwell.
The stairs were packed with girls changing classes, and several looked down at me on the floor. “Are you ok?”
Was I ‘ok’? NO, I was humiliated!
Falling is one thing but falling in your favorite shoes in front of your classmates is a nightmare; especially at 15 when you think you are finally looking cool and relevant.
The idiom “Pride comes before the fall” took on a new meaning.
Proverbs 16:18 says it best,
“Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.”
Why is Humility Important?
To understand humility, let’s define pride.
Pride is a deep sense of pleasure in your achievements or possessions.
There is nothing inherently wrong with pleasure or satisfaction.
So why is pride a problem? Because a small pleasure can quickly become too important and begin to define our identity.
It’s a slippery slope.
As I revealed in my clog story, a pair of shoes made me feel valued and worthwhile.
When a possession or accomplishment makes us feel worthwhile and special, we can start to feel better than others.
If we feel elevated then someone else has to be below us. It’s a dangerous cycle for our spiritual health and growth.
In Mark 14:29-31 we read the story of Peter’s encounter with pride:
“Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I won’t.”
Jesus said to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Tonight before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
But Peter said very strongly, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don’t know you.”
We know the rest of that story…In his pride, Peter underestimated his lack of courage.
Having an unbalanced need to project a strong and unquestionable self-image is usually rooted in misguided confidence, low self-esteem, or deep pain.
Prideful people tend to have a strong desire to always look good to others. One way prideful behavior is revealed is when someone frequently shifts conversations back to themselves.
Humility is the opposite of pride. A humble spirit reveals a modest estimate of its importance.
“Pride and vanity are restrictive, turning us inward—ultimately making us sad, insecure, and restless. Humility, on the other hand, is expansive—turning us outward, and making possible an encounter with true joy.”
Why is humility important? Not because you should think you have no value but because you see everyone’s value as the same in God’s eyes.
“So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:27 AMP
Authenticity, surrender and love guide us toward humility instead of being suffocated by pride.
5 Benefits of Humility
The benefits of humility are immeasurable.
Here are five benefits of humility that impact our spiritual health and our ability to bear fruit and love others as God loves us.
- Your spiritual connection to Jesus becomes stronger as you focus on His presence instead of your image.
- You are less distracted by what everyone else is thinking or doing as you focus on God’s purpose for you.
- Your life is calmer, simpler, happier, and more peaceful; pride is exhausting.
- Your relationships are authentic as people feel valued and not judged.
- You have confidence in your identity and that you are living in God’s favor, which takes center stage instead of your desires.
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.
CS Lewis
“If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed”
CS Lewis
What Does the Bible Say About Humility
The Bible is full of wisdom and speaks of the benefits of humility and the dangers of pride.
Here are five scriptures to help you embrace the gift of humility.
5 Bible Verses About Humility
“When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame, But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.”
Proverbs 11:2 AMP
“True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.”
Proverbs 22:4 NLT
“Search for the Lord, all you humble people in the land who carry out his justice. Search for what is right. Search for humility.”
Zephaniah 2:3 GW
“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:13 NLT
“And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 NLT
3 Prayers For Humility
It is hard to be humble alone, because pride sneaks up before you realize it.
Asking God to help conquer pride is the most helpful tool in the fight to be humble.
Here are a few helpful prayers for humility you can recite, meditate on, and take to heart when the benefits of humility are elusive.
Prayer 1: Jesus Exhibits Humility
“Lord Jesus, when you walked the earth,
Your humility obscures your Kingship.
Your meekness confused the arrogant,
Hindering them from grasping your purpose,
Your nobleness attending to the destitute.
Teach me to model after your eminence,
To subject my human nature to humility.
Grant me with a natural inclination
To never view myself greater than anyone.
Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance
That could elevate me greater than you.
Let my heart always imitate your humility.”
Author Unknown
Prayer 2: Grant Me Humility
“Dear heavenly Father, “being right” is so much more fun than being humbled; remaining defensive is so much easier than offering kindness; getting even is more instinctive than getting low.
Alas, I find myself again in the need of fresh grace as this day begins. Thank you for convicting me without condemning me.
I know you resist the proud, but give grace to the humble—and the last thing in the world I want is to experience your resistance, so, Father, I humble myself before you today. Bring glory to yourself, as you bring me back to the ways of the gospel.
Forgive me for trying to justify my haughtiness, coolness, and withdrawal. Nobody’s failure to love well can excuse my own. Forgive me for investing more energy in propping up my reputation than in working towards peace and reconciliation.
Forgive me for confusing the self-righteous monologue I’ve been carrying on in my head with prayer. I’ve been talking to myself, not to you.
Forgive me for relishing the thought of being right, when there’s been everything wrong with my attitude. Forgive me for “processing” the broken situation with others, when it’s been closer to gossip.
Forgive me for being passive in the face of a potential messy confrontation, rather than active as a peacemaker.
Have mercy on me, gracious Father, have mercy. As the day unfolds, please grant me humility, kindness, and courage to move towards the situation. Bring glory to yourself, gentleness to my heart, and a good gospel outcome.
So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.”
Scotty Smith
Prayer 3: The Litany of Humility
“O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.”
Attributed to Rafael Merry del Val
My hope is that the benefits of humility will inspire you to press on, fight pride, and become humble like Jesus.
And remember it is not a sprint but a lifelong marathon, so give yourself and others the grace to grow and evolve.
“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”
Billy Graham
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the founder and writer for the faith-based blog Butterflyliving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple platforms. She is the author of “Uniquely Made, Understanding and Embracing Your Identity in Christ(opens in new tab) and the collaboration “Life-Changing Stories”(opens in new tab), both available on Amazon and where books are sold.
