When Saul was called out from the tribe of Benjamin to be acknowledged before all the people as their new king, he could not be found. God had to tell Samuel to go and find Saul who was hiding among the equipment (1 Samuel 10:22).
Saul started out as a very humble man. Unfortunately, he did not keep pride and selfish ambition in check. As a result, the kingdom was stripped from him. He tried to kill his successor. Saul died on the battlefield and the Philistines hung his remains on a wall at the ancient city of Beit She’an in a final act of mockery.
As the writer of Proverbs wisely stated, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). When we become arrogant and full of pride God can’t use us anymore.
Standing in the city of Beit She’an, I was reminded of Jesus’ words, “Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor” (Matthew 23:12 AMP).
How do we humble ourselves? David said he “humbled himself with fasting” (Psalm 35:13).
Fasting is a means of humbling ourselves before the Lord. Fasting will help you identify any areas of pride so that you can lay those things down before the Lord.
When you set your heart to fast and humble yourself before Him, God will be faithful to show you the areas in your life that eat away at your soul like a cancer, and keep you from entering the fullness that He has for you. I pray that the Spirit of God will work humility into your life and into my life as we fast and we pray.
8/15. FRI. DAY 6: VISION
