“To this person will I look, the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” If you want to reach Heaven, you must lower yourself. We say of Jesus, “He came down so He could ascend,” and so must you. You must grow downward to grow upward, for only humble souls can have sweet fellowship

with Heaven. God will deny no blessing to a truly humble heart. Humility prepares us to be blessed by the God of all grace and equips us to serve others effectively. Whether in prayer or praise

, work or suffering, you can never have too much humility.

We’re close to being purified when we’re willing to undergo whatever refining process God chooses for us. Self and sin are closely connected, and until our selfishness is gone, our sin will remain. But when we can truly pray, “Not my will, but Yours be

done,” then much of our impurity is gone, and we are ready to bear the image of the great King.