July 10, 2024

Key #6 to Effective Prayer—Humility

Humility is a very important key to effective prayer. In 1 Peter 5:5–6 we read this,

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

God resists the proud. He gives grace to the humble.

Humility, more than anything else, is an attitude of the heart that says, “I recognize I am not self-sufficient. I am open, I am teachable, I am thankful. God, I am willing to bow my heart before You and confess that I am in utter need of Your assistance.”

Contrary to what some people say and think, humility is not to be equated with lack of courage. In fact, it takes great courage for a person to admit they have need. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is a sign of strength.

King David said in Psalm 18:35, Your gentleness (or Your meekness) has made me great. Moses was called the meekest or the humblest man on the face of the earth, and yet we don’t think of him as a weak person. He is one of the greatest leaders to ever step out of the pages of the Bible, and very few people in history have had power with God in the place of prayer like Moses did.

Jesus, our Savior, said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (KJV). Friend, that ought to be one of the hallmark qualities of our lives— especially when we are praying. It is a key to effective prayer.

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