A New Kind of Discipline Pt. 3: Humility

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”— 1 Peter 5:5

Humility is not forced upon us by suffering or shame. While life may humble us, deepening in humility is a willful spiritual engagement. It is the conscious decision to lower ourselves. Not to shrink, but to submit to the way of Christ.

Andrew Murray writes, “Humility is not so much a grace or virtue along with others; it is the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God, and allows Him as God to do all.”

For the record, I love Murray’s volume on humility. Humility: The Beauty of Holiness is a deeply formative read—and often available free on Kindle or online.

Humility is a choice that shapes our character. It grows as we yield control, as we release the need to be seen, and as we intentionally practice downward movement in a world obsessed with climbing upward.

Humility Is the Posture of Spiritual Maturity

Andrew Murray wrote, “Humility is the displacement of self by the enthronement of God.”

True humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself; it’s about thinking of yourself less.

Humility is the inward posture that makes space for the Spirit to do His work, because pride clutters what humility clears.

In a world obsessed with platform, recognition, and control, humility invites us to descend. Not into self-loathing, but into gospel alignment—where God is lifted high and we take the posture of servants.

Why Humility is a Spiritual Discipline

Andrew Murray again puts it beautifully, “The humble person is not one who thinks little of himself, but one who simply doesn’t think of himself at all.”

Humility isn’t just a nice personality trait—it’s a deeply spiritual posture. It’s not about poor self-esteem or passivity. It’s about freedom from self-obsession. In fact, humility may be one of the most misrepresented of all the spiritual disciplines, because we’ve often confused it with insecurity or silence. But biblical humility isn’t about hiding—it’s about releasing the constant need to be first, right, or impressive.

Humility doesn’t just happen. It must be practiced—daily, intentionally, and relationally. It's formed in the soil of submission to God and service to others. Like prayer or Sabbath, humility is a repeated act of turning toward something greater than yourself and away from the false stories ego loves to tell.

In the way of Jesus, humility is not optional. Philippians 2 paints it clearly:

“He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This wasn’t accidental. Jesus chose the downward path—again and again. His power was displayed not in dominance, but in restraint. Not in control, but in surrender. He washed feet. He welcomed children. He silenced himself before his accusers.

To follow Jesus means learning to lower yourself—voluntarily, joyfully, courageously. Humility as a spiritual discipline trains us to loosen our grip on status, reputation, and the craving for affirmation. It stretches us to be interruptible. Teachable. Willing to yield.

It’s not just something we feel in moments of reflection. It’s something we do in moments of tension. We practice humility when we:

• Listen without needing to correct

• Apologize without defending

• Celebrate others without comparison

• Serve without being seen

• Pray without performance

• Confess without excuses

This kind of humility isn’t natural—it’s supernatural. It’s the fruit of a life increasingly surrendered to God’s Spirit. It’s the slow undoing of pride’s grip on our identity, our relationships, and our calling.

And here’s the mystery: as we descend into humility, we rise into wholeness. We become more human. More secure. More free.

So ask yourself today—not “Am I humble?” but “Am I practicing humility?”Not “Do I feel small?” but “Have I chosen to make room for someone else?”

How to Practice the Discipline of Humility

1. Celebrate Others Without Comparison. Make it your habit to lift others up—publicly and privately—without tethering their success to your value.

2. Serve Without Being Noticed. Do something this week that no one will praise—on purpose. Let it be a quiet offering.

3. Apologize Quickly and Without Excuse. Humility doesn’t defend pride. It repents quickly and moves forward in grace.

4. Ask for Help. There is no spiritual growth without interdependence. Humility acknowledges need without shame.

Reflection Questions

• Where do I struggle most with pride or self-importance?

• What area of my life would benefit from surrendering control?

• How can I intentionally lift someone else up this week?

Prayer

Jesus,

You humbled Yourself—even to the point of death on a cross.

Teach me to let go of my need to be seen, praised, or in control.

Help me clothe myself in humility—not for performance, but for Your glory.

Let my posture reflect Your heart, and make me more like You.

Amen.