10 Everyday Ways to Practice Humility

Romans 3:23 says, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." 

In translation, none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes, and we miss the mark compared to God's measuring stick (not looking at others). Hence, we needed Jesus to die on the cross as payment for our past, present, and future sins. When we remind ourselves that we are all in need of a Savior because of our transgressions, this is a mindful way to not think more highly of ourselves than we should (Romans 12:3). 

2. Remember We Are Saved by Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." 

Sometimes, we get caught up in the belief that the more good deeds we do, the better people we are, and ultimately, the more saved, holy, righteous, and accepted we are. Quite the opposite is true, however. It is humbling to know that God's unmerited favor and love for us are what saves us when we believe in Jesus. There is nothing that we can do to earn it. Reminding ourselves of God's extraordinary, undeserved grace is another way to operate in humility. 

3. Practice Empathy

Romans 12:15-16 states, "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!" 

This passage is a friendly reminder that we can put ourselves in others' shoes and work to see life through their lenses. We can celebrate with others when they get that promotion, even if we are waiting for God to do the same thing in our lives. We can cry with our brothers and sisters during the loss of a loved one, even if we do not know their relative. Practicing humility involves stepping outside of our worlds to create and cultivate meaningful community and relationships.

Matthew 6:1-4 states, "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." 

Our heavenly Father looks at our hearts when we give. He wants us to be His hands and feet on earth and point people to Him. Our motivation to give should be for His glory and credit, not for our own or so the world can praise our deeds. We can challenge ourselves to give in secret as a practical way to practice humility.

5. Look in the Mirror

Matthew 7:3-5 states, "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." 

It's tempting to call out the faults and flaws of others; however, this passage is a humbling reminder to pick up our mirrors and tend to the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and attitudes that we need to adjust. The more we focus on looking more like Christ within our own lives, the less time we have to concern ourselves with the areas of improvement we deem others need. 

6. Focus on Our Assignment

Galatians 6:4-5 "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct." 

What has God called you to do? Do it. Improve. Refine it. Like looking in our mirrors, when we concern ourselves with fulfilling our own purposes and assignments, that minimizes the time and energy we have to focus on the roles and responsibilities of others. A significant component of humility is remaining focused on our own missions so that we can glorify God through our lives. We should also remember that just as God is working with us to fulfill what He has called us to do, He is able to perfect the rest of His children without our assistance.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/coffeekai

Ephesians 4:31-32 states, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." 

While forgiveness can be difficult, this humbling practice is encouraged by our heavenly Father for our freedom. One practical way we can get into this habit is to remember the fourth, fifth, thousandth, chance God has given us. When we remember these, it aids in our ability to exercise forgiveness toward those who have wronged us and opens the door for a more abundant and joyous life. To practice forgiveness is to practice humility.   

8. Help Others

Galatians 6:1-3 says, "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." 

We can exercise humility by meeting people right where they are. We can help by praying with and for others and assisting with finding resources they may need to get back on the right track. Rather than shaming or blaming, we can strive to walk with them through their struggles, being careful not to get caught up in the very challenges they are seeking to escape.

James 1:19 states, "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." 

My mother used to say, "God gave us two ears and one mouth, which means we are to listen twice as much as we speak." So, Momma was on to something, as the scripture passage reminds us of the importance of listening more. A practical way to practice humility is to attend to what people are saying without thinking of your response or rebuttal while they are speaking. We tend to struggle with this because we want to get our points across and be heard. The more we practice, the more we find that we will truly hear what is being said and understand others. We can strengthen our relationships by listening more and talking less, and we exercise our humility muscles. 

10. Give Thanks to the Source

Finally, we can practice humility by recognizing our Source and giving thanks. Our finances, education, ethnicity, intellect, family, achievements, or other entities are not our sources. God is. The more we reflect on this, the humbler we remain. 

1 Chronicles 29:11-14 states, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!" 

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat