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I must admit that at the beginning of this exercise – the Novena – I was a little skeptical. What could I possibly get out of praying a “canned” prayer? Well, I did it anyway, with only a sleight change in that I didn’t always add the ending “chorus” after every line. I did not leave out the “meat” and I truly meant it every time I said it. Like I said yesterday, I don’t pray it verbatim but I do try to remember the gist of it. What is it? Well to me, it’s asking the Lord to give me the gift of true humility. The kind that doesn’t seek to be noticed, or esteemed, or chosen over others. The kind that doesn’t need to be honored, or praised (that’s a hard one for me – especially when I cook), or consulted, or approved by anyone but God.

This prayer also helped me to understand that true humility means I should seek always to do what God wants me to do and not to be afraid that someone might try to humiliate me because of it. I don’t need to be afraid that others may despise me, because they despised Jesus and he did what he needed to do anyway and said what needed to be said. I can be rebuked, ridiculed, wronged, slandered and even suspected, but if my motives and heart are right with the Lord I don’t need to worry about it. I can leave my heavy burdens with him, put it all in his hands. If you put Jesus first, others second and you last, it equals JOY!

I think most of all, to pray for true humility is to accept that God will take us up on the offer. It won’t always be a fun ride, but it WILL be worth it!

1 Peter 5:5-6
…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.