June Theme – Humility Before God
Verse for the Month: James 4:10
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
This Week’s Theme: Strength in Surrender
Written By: Pastor Kelsey Barela
Monday (6/23): God’s Srength is Made Perfect in Weakness
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Devotional Thought:
In a world that values strength and power, Paul’s world challenges our thinking. How can weakness lead to strength? How can our hardships be something we delight in?
Paul through his trials learned something very important: our weakness creates space for God’s power to fully work in and through our lives. When we run out, our strength, our wisdom, or resources, that’s when God’s strength is able to shine through. His strength is not limited to our strengths. It is when we face difficulties that we experience the true depth of his sustaining power.
Weakness humbles us. It reminds us that we are not self-sufficient. It draws us closer to the heart of God. When we surrender our weaknesses to Him, we find that He carries what we cannot. His strength upholds us, His wisdom guides us, and His grace sustains us.Paul could delight in his weakness, not because he found it to be enjoyable, but because he knew the truth. Every hardship he faced became an opportunity to experience his faithfulness and strength of God in his lives. We have the same opportunity in our moments of hardship and weakness.
Action Steps:
- Take a moment and reflect on ways God has given you strength beyond your own
- Reflect and memorize some bible verses that encourage strength in weakness.
Biblical Testimony:
The story of Gideon is a great example of God’s strength in weakness. Gideon never saw himself as strong or capable. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon when he was in hiding and called him a mighty warrior. Gideon’s first response was to remind him of his lowly status.
Gideon was hiding in fear and seemed like the unlikely choice for the mighty warrior that God was going to use to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Yet, that is exactly why God chose him. Gideon’s weakness became the perfect stage for God’s strength.
Gideon’s story testifies to the truth that Paul proclaimed about weakness in strength. Like Paul, Gideon learned that God does not need human strength or qualifications. He delights in using the weak to display His power.
Because of God’s way of winning the battle for Gideon, he could not boast in himself. He knew that the only way he was able to face the army the way he did was through God’s strength. His life reminds us that when we feel small, fearful, or inadequate, God’s strength can work powerfully through us if we trust and obey
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, I confess my weaknesses before You. I surrender my limitations, knowing that You are more than able. Teach me to rest in Your strength, to rely on Your grace, and to find joy in knowing that when I am weak, You are strong. May Your power be made perfect in me. Amen.
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Tuesday (6/24): True Greatness Comes Through Humility
Scripture: Matthew 20:26-28
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Devotional Thought:
We come face to face with an idea that is completely counter cultural to the world we live in today. Our world defines greatness by power, fame, and status. Jesus offers a different thought. When the disciples argued about who would hold the greatest position in His kingdom Jesus gave them a hard truth. Jesus responded with a lesson about leadership they were not expecting, true greatness is found in humility and service.
Jesus demonstrated this through his actions and interactions with the people he was with. Jesus humbled himself to serve those around him. He washed his disciples’ feet. He showed compassion to the outcast. He welcomed children. His entire life was a testimony that the path to true greatness is paved with humility, selflessness, and sacrificial love.
The Creator of the universe took on flesh, entering our broken world not as a king demanding honor, but as a servant giving His life. His ministry was marked by touching lepers, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and ultimately dying on the cross for sinners.
When we serve others, not because of the recognition, we reflect the heart of God because we are doing it out of love. Humility positions us to see people as God sees them, to put others’ needs above our own, and to find joy not in being served, but in serving. When we humble ourselves we experience true greatness through the outpouring of his love to others.
Action Steps:
- Examine aspects of your life where you may be leaning on yourself to experience greatness
- What ways can you work to serve the least of these?
Biblical Testimony:
We have the greatest example of humility when we look to Jesus. He was a servant king that chose the life of humility. Before his ministry even started he showed his humility from birth. He was born in a stable, not the place we would expect for a king to be.
Philippians 2:9-11 states, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus did not come to earth demanding honor or recognition, but to serve and give his life for others. He demonstrated his servanthood over and over again when he touched the untouchable, washed his disciples feet, welcomed children, and he died for sinners.
His life was a living testimony that true greatness is not about status, power, or recognition, but about lowering oneself to lift others up. And because of His humility, God exalted Him to the highest place.
When we follow Jesus’ example, we reflect His kingdom, a kingdom where the greatest are those who serve, where humility is honored, and where love reigns
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, help me to understand what it means to be humble like you were. Let me be an example like you were to reach the untouchable, to love those that need it most, and those that the world says are not enough. Teach me to serve others with joy, to love without seeking recognition, and to lay down my life for others as You did for me. Let my life reflect Your humility and love, that others may see Your glory through my service. Amen.
Wednesday (6/25): Pride Comes Before the Fall
Scripture: Proverbs 16:18-20
“18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy Than to divide the spoils with the proud. 20 One who pays attention to the word will find good, And blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.”
Devotional Thought:
Falling into the habit of being prideful can be easy. You begin by being confident in your abilities. This may soon grow into self reliance and never trusting anyone to do it as well as you can. Eventually this can lead to arrogance. We may start to believe we are wise enough, strong enough, and capable enough to direct our own lives outside of God’s guidance. But Proverbs 16:18 tells us that this is the path to destruction.
In pride, we forget our dependence on God. We take credit for blessings we didn’t create, assume credit for success we didn’t fully control, and close our ears to correction. We assume we know it all and can operate outside the will and plan of God. Pride distances us from God because it falsely tells us that we do not need him.
As our pride and self reliance grow, it is easy to fall into a haughty spirit. The haughty spirit emphasizes an attitude of superiority and an inflated sense of self that looks down on others. They may think they are above correction for others and even God. The haughty spirit does not look for wisdom, warning signs, or a firm foundation. They learn to trust only in themselves, which will lead them to their fall.
Action Steps:
- Reflect on ways you may have taken a prideful approach to a situation.
- Look for ways to lean on God’s wisdom and knowledge.
Biblical Testimony:
After the flood all the people of the world were together in one place. They did not take to heart God’s command that they should spread out a multiply. Instead they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).
They were building a tower in order to make a name for themselves. They were searching for Glory. They wanted to declare their greatness across the land and to reach heaven on their own power. This was their haughty spirit taking hold. They wanted self exaltation and to be independent from God who had just saved them. But pride always leads to the fall.
The Lord saw their hearts. In His wisdom and mercy, He intervened before their pride led to even greater ruin. God confused their language, scattering them across the earth. The very unity they prided themselves on became their undoing. This tower was then known as the tower of Babel.
Their fall was swift. Their once great tower was left unfinished and all their ambitions were destroyed. They forgot that pride and a haughty spirit leads them away from God, while humbleness draws them ever closer to the people God has created us to be.
Prayer for the Day:
Father, thank you for being the guide and source of wisdom in my life. Search my heart and reveal any times when I may lean on my own understanding and fall prey to pride and a haughty spirit. Teach me to walk humbly while honoring others and trusting in your strength, always. Amen
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Thursday (6/26): God Lifts the Humble
Scripture: James 4:6-10
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Devotional Thought:
In a world that celebrates self-promotion and personal achievement, humility often seems like weakness. Yet, in God’s kingdom, humility is the very posture that draws His favor and unlocks His grace. Pride puts us in opposition to God; humility invites His hand to lift us up.
In our humility we can admit that we need God. We recognize that anything good in our life has come from Him. This means our talents, our opportunities, our very breath. Humility eradicates the feelings of self sufficiency and focuses instead on the power that God provides which is more than sufficient.
God is close to the humble. Pride blinds us to our need for His guidance and creates distance between us and Him. However, when we bow low in humility God draws near to us. He lifts us up to achieve greater things than we could ever do on our own.
Remember this; God does not forget the humble. At the proper time, in His time, he will lift you up. This is not for our own glory, but for his alone. His favor rest on those that need it the most, the ones that are able to humble themselves before him.
Action Steps:
- Reflect on ways you may have been striving to do it all on your own.
- Find ways to depend on his strength and wisdom.
Biblical Testimony:
Jesus told the parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector. They had come to the temple and approached God in very different ways. The Pharisee was proud and self righteous. He used his prayer to say how great he was. “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” (Luke 18:11-12) He was filled with pride and had a haughty spirit.
The tax collector took a different approach. The tax collector was already despised by society and was well aware of his sin. He stood away from the crowds, not even lifting his eyes. He cried out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). He came before God with a contrite spirit and humble soul. He acknowledged his unworthiness and his desperate need for God’s mercy.
Jesus concluded his parable by saying, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) Jesus is saying that humility opens the door for us to experience our great need for Jesus. He favors those that need him and know it so desperately.
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, thank you for the mercy you show to those that come humbly before you. I recognize my deep need for you and ask that you fill me with your grace and mercy. Remind me daily of my need for you and help me to walk as you have commanded me to. Amen.
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Friday (6/27): Following Jesus’ Example of Meekness
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.
Devotional Thought:
When we hear the word “meekness,” we often confuse it with weakness. But meekness, as modeled by Jesus, is strength under control. It is a quiet, steady power rooted in humility and trust in God.
Jesus, the King of Kings, had all authority, yet He described Himself as “gentle and humble in heart.” He did not come with loud demands, harsh commands, or self-promotion. Instead, He came with compassion, patience, and a servant’s heart. He welcomed the weary, the broken, and the sinful not with condemnation, but with grace.
Meekness chooses surrender over control. It is the ability to remain calm when provoked and surrender to God’s will even when we want to fight it. Meekness trusts that God’s timing, justice, and plan are perfect.
Jesus invites us to learn from Him to take His yoke and follow His example of meekness. As we do, He promises something the world cannot give: rest for our souls. There is peace in surrender. There is freedom in humility. There is strength in gentleness.
Action Steps:
- Look for ways to rest in him
- Recognize your need to depend on the Lord and the ways you can learn from him.
Biblical Testimony:
Joseph’s life is a powerful testimony of meekness, not weakness, but strength under control, humility before God, and compassion toward others even in the face of deep injustice. As a young man, Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. He was betrayed and rejected by his family and could have left feeling bitter and angry. Instead he remained faithful to God and chose to serve diligently.
Then, if it could not get worse, he was accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. Joseph had every reason to grow resentful and defending himself against those that had wronged him. But again, Joseph humbled himself under God’s hand, serving faithfully even in prison. His gentle, trustworthy spirit earned him favor with the prison warden and ultimately positioned him for God’s promotion.
After years of suffering, God elevated Joseph to a position of great power, second only to Pharaoh in Egypt (Genesis 41). Yet, even in great authority, Joseph never became arrogant or harsh. His humility remained evident. He used his power not to punish but to serve administering provision during famine, saving countless lives.
The greatest display of Joseph’s meekness came when he was reunited with his brothers. After all they had done to him, he held the power to retaliate. Instead, Joseph wept. He embraced them. He forgave them. He reassured them, saying; “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph’s response shows meekness fully surrendered to God’s providence, trusting that God’s purposes were greater than his own pain.
Prayer for the Day:
Lord Jesus, You are gentle and humble in heart. Teach me to follow Your example of meekness. Help me to surrender my need for control and trust fully in You. Fill my heart with Your peace as I walk in gentleness and humility, knowing that true strength is found in quiet surrender to Your will. Amen.
Saturday & Sunday (6/28-29): Time to Reflect, Act, Worship & Pray
This Weeks’s Scriptures:
James 4:10
2 Corinthians 12:10
Matthew 20:26-28
Philippians 2:9-11
Proverbs 16:18
Genesis 11:4
James 4:6
Luke 18:11-12
Luke 18:13
Luke 18:14
Matthew 11:29
Genesis 41
Genesis 50:20
Time to Reflect:
Throughout Scripture, God continually shows us a truth that goes against the world’s understanding; true strength is found not in self-reliance or power, but in humble surrender to God. At first glance, surrender and strength seem like opposites. The world teaches us that strength means holding on. It means holding on to control, power, status, and self-sufficiency. Surrender is seen as weakness, giving up, or losing. But in God’s kingdom, surrender is the very doorway to real strength, the kind that lasts, sustains, and glorifies Him.
There are a couple truths we can take from our reading. In our surrender we acknowledge God’s sovereignty, we say that he has full control over our life. It says that we do not need to know everything because we know the one who does. In our surrender we are freed from the burden of relying only on ourselves. Strength in surrender means we no longer carry the unbearable burden of self-sufficiency. Instead, we find rest in God’s all-sufficient grace.
Ultimately surrender leads to elevation in God’s timing. The world tries to elevate itself in its own power. But God exalts those who humble themselves before him. True surrender leads to exaltation in God’s timing and his timing alone.
Time to Act
- Journal: Take time to journal and reflect on how you can increase your reliance on God.
- Worship: Spend time listening to worship songs and reflecting on the verses from the week. Find ways to rely on God alone and demonstrate meekness.
- Commit: To be willing to wait on God’s timing in all things and don’t let your heart turn to bitterness.
Time to Worship:
Take times and listen to Ocean’s by Hillsong. Reflect on what it means to surrender to God and let him lead you wherever he wants you to go
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Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour basin
Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Joel Houston / Matt Crocker / Salomon Lighthelm Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Watch the lyric video for “Oceans” by Hillsong
https://youtu.be/dy9nwe9_xzw?si=pfL-Jti860IEMfC9
Weekend Prayer:
Father, I lay down my pride, my plans, and my desire for control. Teach me to trust You fully, even when I do not see the way ahead. May Your strength be perfected in my weakness. Help me to walk in meekness, like Jesus, finding true strength in surrender. Use my surrendered heart to glorify You, Lord. Amen.