Are You Really Humble?

Over the past few months, the Lord has been leading me on a journey. He’ll place a single word on my heart, and I’ll study every verse in the Bible where that word appears.

And let me tell you… it’s been exposing a lot.

I’ve realized that many biblical words have been filtered through culture, tradition, and even “church culture” until they no longer mean what God originally intended.

Honestly, it’s one of the enemy’s smartest tactics.

If he can redefine a word, he can redefine how we live it.

Because if people don’t truly understand what God means, they can never fully walk in it.

That’s why we have to study the Bible for ourselves.

Today I want to talk about humility.

If I asked ten people what it means to be humble, most answers would probably sound something like this:

“They’re quiet.”

“They’re nice.”

“They don’t brag.”

“They’re respectful.”

Those things can certainly reflect humility… but they are not humility itself. They’re symptoms of humility, not its root.

Humility is much deeper. It isn’t first about outward behavior.

It’s about the posture of your heart.

What Does It Mean to Be Humble?

After studying every occurrence of humble, humbled, and humility throughout the Bible, one truth became impossible to ignore.

Humility is wholehearted submission to God.

It is denying ourselves. It is refusing to exalt our flesh.

It is choosing God’s will over our own.

It is recognizing that apart from Him, we have nothing.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” — James 4:10

Throughout Scripture, humility isn’t simply an emotion. It’s about the heart posture.

It’s saying,

• Not my plans… Yours.

• Not my glory… Yours.

• Not my wisdom… Yours.

• Not my strength… Yours.

• Not my will… Yours.

Every time we pray,

“Your will be done, not mine,” we’re doing more than obeying…

We’re walking in humility.

Because humility is choosing God’s desires above our own.

Jesus modeled this perfectly in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” — Luke 22:42

That wasn’t weakness. That was humility.

Humility is continually dying to self so Christ can be seen.

As John the Baptist said,

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30

And here’s the beautiful thing:

God always lifts up those who first bow before Him.

1. Humility Is the Heart Posture God Desires

One thing that surprised me during this study was realizing how often people confuse humility with passivity.

Some people think humble people never confront anyone.

Never speak truth.

Never challenge sin.

But Jesus completely destroys that idea.

The same Jesus who washed His disciples’ feet also confronted religious hypocrisy.

• He overturned tables.

• He rebuked false teachers.

• He spoke hard truths.

  
  

Humility isn’t about avoiding confrontation.

The true test of humility is the motive behind it.

It’s always about the why and the how.

Ask yourself:

Are you trying to prove you’re right… or are you seeking truth?

Those are two completely different motives.

• One is rooted in pride.

• The other is rooted in humility.

Sometimes we’re not actually fighting for truth.

We’re fighting for our ego.

That’s pride. Pride simply wants to win.

Humility isn’t obsessed with being right.

Humility is obsessed with doing what is right in God’s eyes.

Here’s an  example.

I’ve met some incredibly kind, generous, charismatic believers…

…who struggle to say one simple word.

“I’m sorry.”

Can I ask a question?

Will saying sorry actually kill you?

😂

Sometimes our pride convinces us that apologizing somehow diminishes us.

But genuine humility has no problem admitting fault.

Even more challenging…

Sometimes God asks us to humble ourselves when we aren’t even the one who was wrong.

I’ve experienced that firsthand.

A Story God Used to Expose My Pride

A while ago I met someone at a Christian gathering.

We connected instantly. Our conversations were beautiful.

It was refreshing meeting someone who genuinely loved Jesus.

Then something happened.

I won’t go into details, but what happened genuinely left a bad taste in my mouth.

If you know me, you know one thing about me…

I’m an expert at quietly removing myself from awkward situations.

I don’t enjoy unnecessary drama.

So I disappeared.

Problem solved…

Or so I thought.

Weeks later we ended up at another gathering. Behold I saw them…

Guess what I did?

I literally turned my face so I wouldn’t have to say hello.

😂

Yes…

I actually hid.

In my defense…

I felt justified.

Then one day I saw the same person again at a store.

What are the chances?

Immediately I felt the Holy Spirit whisper,

“Go say hello.”

My response?

“Absolutely not.”

I honestly just want to mind my business…

I even negotiated with God.

“Okay.. If I happen to see them near the checkout…I’ll say hi .”

Well…

Guess where they were.

Standing right at the checkout.

And…

I still hid.

But afterwards the Holy Spirit convicted me.

Not because the other person had been right.

They weren’t.

He convicted me because I had disobeyed Him.

This may seem small—just saying “hi.”

But the Lord reminded me: If you won’t obey Me in the small things, how will you obey Me in the big things?

The issue wasn’t them.

The issue was my heart.

I realized something that day.

My pride had disguised itself as “my personality”.

I kept telling myself,

“That’s just who I am.”

“I expect people to take accountability.”

“They should come to me first.”

All of those statements felt reasonable.

But underneath them was pride.

Because God wasn’t asking me who was right.

He was asking,

“Will you obey Me?”

That question changed everything.

Sometimes humility means doing something you don’t feel like doing simply because God asked.

Not because the other person deserves it.

Not because it’s fair.

Not because you’ll get an apology.

But because obedience matters more than your feelings.

I believe humility and obedience are inseparable.

• Humility is the heart posture that submits to God.

• Obedience is the action that flows from that submitted heart.

Humility says, “Your will, not mine.”

Obedience walks out, “Your will, not mine.”

I remember repenting afterwards.

“Lord, give me another chance.”

And He did.

The next time…

I obeyed.

Not because I suddenly felt like it.

But because I wanted Him to increase more in me than I wanted to protect my pride.

Sometimes humility simply sounds like this:

“I really don’t want to…

…but because You said  so Lord….

I’ll do it.”

2. The Rewards of Humility

One thing that amazed me during this study was how many promises God attaches to humility.

Scripture says God will:

• Preserve the humble (Zephaniah 2:3)

• Give them wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)

• Teach them His ways (Psalm 25:9)

• Guide them in justice (Psalm 25:9)

• Live with the humble in spirit (Isaiah 57:15)

• Honor those who humble themselves (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12; 29:23)

One verse stood out to me.

“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.” — Proverbs 22:4

Think about that.

According to God, humility is a pathway to wisdom…

Honor…

Favor…

Riches…

Life…

And His presence.

No wonder Scripture repeatedly says, Before honor comes humility.

3. God Gives Grace to the Humble

This theme appears over and over again.

God saves the humble.

He hears the humble.

He beautifies the humble.

He gives grace to the humble.

He responds when His people humble themselves.

But Scripture also says something sobering.

God resists the proud.

Read that again.

He resists them.

“Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” — Proverbs 3:34

That makes perfect sense.

If humility produces obedience…

Pride produces rebellion/ disobedience .

Pride chooses our desires over God’s commands.

4. Sometimes God Humbles Us for Our Good

There’s a difference between humbling yourself…

…and being humbled by God.

If we continually refuse to bow willingly…

God sometimes allows circumstances that expose what’s really inside us.

Not to destroy us.

But to restore us.

Deuteronomy 8 tells us God humbled Israel to reveal what was in their hearts, teach them dependence on Him, and ultimately do them good.

Even His discipline is love.

5. Fasting Is an Expression of Humility

One thing I noticed while studying was how often fasting and humility are connected.

Biblical fasting isn’t simply skipping meals.

It’s voluntarily denying the flesh to seek God more deeply.

Daniel humbled himself before God through fasting (Daniel 10:12).

Our greatest need isn’t food. It’s God.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing this study taught me, it’s this:

Humility is much bigger than appearance.

It’s much bigger than being quiet, nice, or soft-spoken.

Humility is the posture of a heart that continually says,

“Lord, not my will… Yours.”

The real question isn’t,

“Do I look humble?”

The question is,

“When God asks me to lay down my pride, my opinion, my comfort, or my right to be right… will I?”

Because at the end of the day…

Humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself.

It’s about dying to self …

…so that Christ can be seen more.

🎵 Music Time

“Do It With Jesus” — Yshadey

A simple reminder with profound truth:

If you’re going to do anything… do it with Jesus. 🤍