Thoughts for Life: #58 Undue Humility

C. Peter Wagner continues to share with us from his book, PRAYER SHIELD:

"Humility is the opposite of arrogance, but there is some danger that undue humility can get in the way of receiving intercession.

I have had some problems with this myself.

The thinking goes like this:

I am no better than anyone else in the Body of Christ. We are all sinners saved by grace. God loves all of His children equally. He does not love me more than the others.

Why, then, should I expect to receive this powerful intercession when many of my church members do not have the same privilege? Instead of building a special team of prayer partners for myself, might it not be better just to encourage all church members to pray for each other?

This is not biblical humility, because it fails to recognize that pastors and other leaders are, because of their office, not equal to every other member of the Body of Christ.

I explained this matter in great detail in chapter 3, #32 Pastors Need Intercession (my post), so there is no need to repeat it here. Pastors need intercessory prayer more than any other member of the congregation, and God's plan is to provide it for them.

The part I struggled with was a subsequent question: Why should I ask someone to give me 1 hour a day in prayer, when I give them back maybe 10 seconds a day? It doesn't seem fair.

I am now comfortable with the fact that this is also God's design.

My intercessors pray for me much more that I pray for them, and they expect nothing different.

God does things through me and my spiritual gifts that He is not doing through my intercessors. And He does things through them that He does not do through me.

In conclusion, I feel that a full appreciation of the operation of the Body of Christ is a vital key to ridding ourselves of the obstacles that are in the way of receiving personal intercession.

Intercessors may often not be very visible, but they are like the glands in our body that, 24 hours a day, secrete the hormones we need for life, health and energy.

Once we understand this, ignorance, rugged individualism, fear, spiritual arrogance and undue humility will maintain no further foothold in our beings.

We will be open to the full ministry of the Holy Spirit and His gifts through the Body of Christ to be all God wants us to be."

Today’s post -#58 Undue Humility, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 115-116)

Let’s pray:

Father, it seems time for us to examine ourselves, to see if we are guilty of undue humility.

Am I able to accept other's spiritual opinion of me, as a minister, or leader in my church?

Do I see my own need of being prayed for?

Am I ready to admit my guilt of pretense, or am I just hoping no one knows my real feelings and shortcomings?

Forgive me for my inability 'til now, to ask for prayer support in what You've asked me to accomplish. It is plain that I do need Your help if I'm to become efficient in my mission in life.

I humbly ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Today’s prayer for pastors: Time with God. “Lord, let nothing hinder my pastor’s time with you. Protect my pastor from the distractions of busyness, unnecessary demands, fatigue, over commitment, compromise, and doubt. Bless____________with rich study time, and give him/her opportunities, desire, and places to seek You in prayer, both alone and with others. Act 6:2-4; Matt. 26:41; 2 Tim. 2:15; Mk. 1:35; Acts 1:14 Terry Teykl

Today’s Bible verse: Ecc. 7:8 "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."

Today’s quote: www.americangreetings.com
(From a card that was given to me).

"God gives us breath that we may sing.
God gives us all the earth that we may plant faithful gardens.
God gives us the promise of His second coming that we may dance even in the rain."

Some thoughts today: God wants us to receive His blessings! We're to covet them, and rejoice with others when they receive them. There is a bonding that takes place when we do.

- When our desire is to bless others, it pleases God, as the Father desires godly outlets for His blessings. Poverty is found where desire has no outlet in God.

- When we see and acknowledge our own need to improve, God is delighted to enable us to learn of His ways, so we can become more like Christ, (Who is the image of the Father).

2/1- Saturday’s post: A Husband Needs a Wife Elaine W. Miller

2nd- Sunday's post: I Feel Your Pain Mary Southerland

Sunday evening's post: Why I am a Christian Jean Oathout

Tuesday's post: #59 Three Types of Personal Intercessors C. Peter Wagner

A popular post: THE LEGEND OF THE CIRCLE MAKER Mark
Batterson - "But there was one man, an eccentric sage who lived outside the walls of Jerusalem, who dared to pray anyway. His name was Honi. And even if the people could no longer hear God, he believed that God could still hear them."