How to practice Humility?

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acacia12 said:
Wow! Thank you! It’s kind of hitting in a good way. Powerful stuff. I know I’m going to feel all kinds of emotions reading it. So far I have. Wow!😃
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Hahaha that’s how I felt reading it, it was a case of confrontation reading it but in a helpful way !!🙂
 
Just wish to thank everyone so far who have contributed. So much food for thought and lessons for me to learn.🙂 and 😦 lol
 
Cor_Ignis said:
acacia12;10643934:
I do find number 1 difficult because I don’t fear God. I love God,but not fear :confused:
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The fear of God is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Is not literaly fearing God, but having a respectful fear of failing him or not following his commandments perfectly.
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Yes, fear of the Lord is one of the gifts of the Spirit. It is, according to many Old Testament authors, “the beginning of wisdom.”

And Cor Ignis is right about true “fear of the Lord” not being what others have called “craven fear,” the terror we might feel about some harm that may befall us (e.g. being attacked by a tiger, being tortured by a tyrant).

As St. Paul wrote, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” and St. John taught, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

St. Anthony the Great is often depicted with one of his most famous sayings, based on John’s epistle above: “I no longer fear God, but I love Him.”


So clearly a distinction must be made between that fear which is craven and that fear which is a gift of the Spirit and the beginning of wisdom. 🙂

In addition to what Cor Ignis has said, I would say that true fear of the Lord is primarily awe and wonder that inspires love and longing for God.

You may also enjoy this passage written by St. Hilary of Poitiers.
 
aspirant said:
Yes, fear of the Lord is one of the gifts of the Spirit. It is, according to many Old Testament authors, “the beginning of wisdom.”

And Cor Ignis is right about true “fear of the Lord” not being what others have called “craven fear,” the terror we might feel about some harm that may befall us (e.g. being attacked by a tiger, being tortured by a tyrant).

As St. Paul wrote, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” and St. John taught, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

St. Anthony the Great is often depicted with one of his most famous sayings, based on John’s epistle above: “I no longer fear God, but I love Him.”
http://orthodoxwiki.org/images/d/d9/Anthony_the_Great.jpg

So clearly a distinction must be made between that fear which is craven and that fear which is a gift of the Spirit and the beginning of wisdom. 🙂

In addition to what Cor Ignis has said, I would say that true fear of the Lord is primarily awe and wonder that inspires love and longing for God.

You may also enjoy this passage written by St. Hilary of Poitiers.
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You were right. I did enjoy this. It has been saved. Thank you.🙂
 
Step 4 is impossible for me. I can’t suffer well.

Step 7 is easy. I am useless and worthless to God.
 
acacia12 said:
I do find number 1 difficult because I don’t fear God. I love God,but not fear :confused:
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I think fear in this context means reverence not craven fear.

I think we should reverence God and acknowledge what is true, that God is the Almighty and we owe Him our reverence.

Just my opinion. 😉
 
Sarcelle said:
I think fear in this context means reverence not craven fear.

I think we should reverence God and acknowledge what is true, that God is the Almighty and we owe Him our reverence.

Just my opinion. 😉
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And I like it 😉
 
+JMJ+

Humility and humanity have the same root word: humus, meaning “dirt”.

Humility, in other words, is to remember that you’re human, with all the strengths and weaknesses that entails.
 
nuntym said:
+JMJ+

Humility and humanity have the same root word: humus, meaning “dirt”.

Humility, in other words, is to remember that you’re human, with all the strengths and weaknesses that entails.
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So simplistic and true! Love it! Thank you 🙂
 
acacia12 said:
I am looking for ways to practice humility. How do you practice humility?
Thank you for your answers and time in advance.🙂
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Ask God for humility. Pray hard for it! God will send you humiliations to make you humble. If you bear humiliations with patience, love and meekness, you will grow in humility. God bless you.
 
nuntym said:
Humility and humanity have the same root word: humus, meaning “dirt”.

Humility, in other words, is to remember that you’re human, with all the strengths and weaknesses that entails.
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I think you are right to point out both strengths and weaknesses. It is a false humility, after all, that only says things such as “I am worthless.” True humility acknowledges the truth, good as well as bad, and recognizes the true origin of the good in God. I went looking for a familiar C.S. Lewis passage about this, and found a wonderful missive from an Orthodox archpriest that also includes the Lewis passage.

In connection with the humus point, I think it can be a good exercise to give some thought to soil. Good soil is receptive and nurturing, a servant to the farmer, and this is how it produces fruit. In this connection think of Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

In the sacraments, some of the most common things of the earth are transformed into powerful channels of grace-- water, oil, bread, wine. These were not rare and extraordinary elements in themselves, but everyday things, readily at hand, put into the service of God.

In Christianity, God himself is the perfect example of humility. Though he is Supreme by nature-- omnipotent, omniscient, and so forth-- he is a servant to all in love. From assuming human nature as a tiny, helpless embryo to pouring himself out in death to becoming our food, God demonstrates perfect humility.
 
One way is to give and ask for no reward. I will accept a reward if offered one, but asking is a foreign concept to me.
 
acacia12 said:
I am looking for ways to practice humility. How do you practice humility?
Thank you for your answers and time in advance.🙂
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I started a similar thread a while back. Here is one of the posts I made, which you may find useful.

+Pax
jwinch2 said:
This is a great little homily on humility and what it means. The title says it is about St. Benedict and humility, and that is what originally drew me to listen to it. However, the majority of the talk is not about St. Benedict at all, but rather humility in general.

Its very short, at only 8 minutes or so, and well worth the time to listen.

audiosancto.org/sermon/20130321-Saint-Benedict-and-Humility.html

In fact, the whole Audio Sancto website is full of fantastic little homilies and devotional material. They are all very short, well done, and per their motto, in plain English.
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I hope you enjoy it.
 
I just head a Buddhist teacher say something to the effect of “Humility is being willing to see your own arrogance. When you see your arrogance, there’s a moment of real humility.” Rang true.
 
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