DAY 6

A LESSON IN HUMILITY

JON NICHOLAS, WORSHIP & CREATIVE PASTOR

When I was just starting out in worship ministry, I had the opportunity to travel and lead congregations in worship at various churches. This was an incredible time of learning and growth, and the Lord used this season to shape me into the leader He desired me to be. One particular weekend I remember an important lesson He taught me while leading at two different churches on the same day.

On this particular Sunday morning, everything seemed to be going perfectly. The soundcheck went flawless, the band was in sync, and we were confident—maybe a little too confident. In our readiness, I remember thinking, “We are going to be awesome this morning.” We prayed a short prayer, filled with anticipation that our performance would be something special.

When the service began, everything went according to plan. Musically, we were on point, hitting every note perfectly and executing transitions smoothly. I walked off the platform afterward feeling like we had just delivered one of the best sets I had ever led.

But there was one problem...and it was a big one. Despite our technical and musical excellence, there was no sense of the Holy Spirit's presence. The congregation seemed disengaged, and there was no spiritual fruit. No one mentioned feeling God's presence or having a powerful moment with the Lord. In fact, the congregation seemed indifferent and couldn't have cared less that we were there. I left that service confused and a bit frustrated, and in my arrogance thought, “This church must have issues.”

The evening service at another church could not have been more different. From the start, everything went wrong. The people who were supposed to meet us and let us in the building were late, which put us on a tight schedule. Soundcheck was a disaster; we couldn't get anything to sound right. As we rehearsed the songs, we couldn't find the groove, and we were messing up songs we had played dozens of times. We were running out of time to fix the multiple technical issues, and musically, we were far from our best.

With no other option, I gathered the team and said, "We need to pray." This time, our prayer was not one of confident expectation but of desperate dependence on God. We knew we were not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough to pull this off. We cried out, "God, if You don't show up, this is going to be a disaster. If You don't move among Your people, they will not experience anything of value. If You don't take control and have Your way, there will be no life transformation and no lasting fruit from our ministry."

As the service began, I wish I could say things improved, but they didn't. The technical issues persisted, the band was all over the place, and I missed several notes and even sang the wrong lyrics more than once (shocking, I know). I walked off the platform feeling defeated, embarrassed, and utterly humbled. I felt like we had failed in every way possible. I questioned why God would allow such a mess when all we wanted was to worship Him and lead others to do the same. I was so caught up in what I perceived as a personal failure that I wasn’t paying attention to what was happening in the room.

When the pastor got up to preach, instead of beginning his sermon, he paused and said, "I sense such a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit here tonight, and I want to invite us to linger in His presence." He asked if we would come back up and continue playing. As we continued to worship together, people began flooding the altars. Prayers and songs were lifted up to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit's presence was palpable. People wept, surrendered their lives to Jesus, and many prodigals recommitted their lives to the Lord. The whole church was filled with those seeking God, and there was a tangible sense of His presence moving among the congregation. What had started as a "disaster of a service" became one of the most powerful worship experiences I have ever been a part of.

After the service, I sat in the bus reflecting on the day, and I began to weep. I asked the Lord to forgive me for ever thinking that our ministry was about my talent or abilities. In that moment of brokenness, He gently whispered to my heart, "The Holy Spirit is attracted to humility."

The Bible is full of stories where God chooses the humble and willing rather than the strong and mighty. These stories demonstrate that God values a heart that is fully surrendered to Him, one that recognizes its need for His strength and guidance.

MOSES: THE RELUCTANT LEADER

Moses is a prime example of humility in the face of God's calling. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses was reluctant, doubting his own abilities. In Exodus 3:11, Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Moses felt inadequate and unworthy of the task. Yet, it was precisely this humility and recognition of his own limitations that made him the perfect vessel for God's power. God assured Moses, saying, "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). Throughout his leadership, Moses continued to rely on God, and God used him mightily to deliver His people.

DAVID: THE SHEPHERD KING

David was the youngest son of Jesse, a simple shepherd boy overlooked by even his own family when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel. In 1 Samuel 16, when Samuel saw Eliab, David’s older brother, he thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord." But God said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does
not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). God chose David, not for his physical stature or experience, but for his heart. David's humility and his reliance on God were what made him "a man after God's own heart."

MARY: THE HUMBLE SERVANT

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive and give birth to the Son of God, Mary’s response was one of humility and submission. In Luke 1:38, she said, "I am the Lord's servant... May your word to me be fulfilled." Mary was not of noble birth, nor was she in a position of power or influence. Yet, her humility and willingness to serve made her the chosen vessel for the most important role in history—the mother of our Savior. Mary's song, the Magnificat, reflects her humility as she praises God for "being mindful of the humble state of his servant" (Luke 1:48).

Humility is not about thinking less of ourselves, but rather thinking of ourselves less. It is about recognizing our need for God in every aspect of our lives. James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." This verse highlights the truth that pride creates a barrier between us and God, while humility opens the door for His grace and favor.

This was the lesson I learned that Sunday night—the service that felt like a disaster from a human perspective was actually a powerful encounter with God because we were utterly dependent on Him. The same goes for you in every area of your life The Holy Spirit is attracted to humility because humility creates space for God to work. When we are humble, we step aside and allow God to take center stage. This is where true transformation happens—not through our efforts or abilities, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul understood this well. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, he shares how God responded to his pleas to remove a "thorn in the flesh" by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul concludes, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Paul's weakness became the very platform for God's power to be displayed. His humility and recognition of his own limitations allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him in incredible ways.

So, how do we cultivate humility in our own lives? Here are a few practical steps:

  • ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD

    • Every day, remind yourself that you need God. In your strengths
      and in your weaknesses, rely on Him. Whether you are facing a challenging situation or experiencing success, acknowledge that it is only by His grace that you can accomplish anything of lasting value.

  • SERVE OTHERS

    • Humility is often demonstrated through service. Jesus, the ultimate example of humility, "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). Look for opportunities to serve others, putting their needs above your own.

  • PRACTICE GRATITUDE

    • Gratitude shifts our focus from what we have done to what God has done. Regularly take time to thank God for His blessings, His guidance, and His presence in your life. Gratitude leads to humility by reminding us that everything we have comes from Him.

  • BE QUICK TO REPENT

    • When pride or self-sufficiency begins to creep in, be quick to repent. Recognize when you are relying on your own strength instead of trusting in God's power. Turn back to Him with a humble heart, acknowledging your need for His guidance and grace. Repentance restores our dependence on God and realigns our focus on His will, allowing the Holy Spirit to move freely in our lives once again.

PRAYER

Lord, I come before You with a humble heart, recognizing that I am nothing without You. Help me to always rely on Your strength and not my own, and to serve others with the same humility that Christ demonstrated. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and let my life be a vessel for Your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.