As the Day Ends
“We may be afraid to ask God to keep us humble. Why are we not far more frightened of what pride can do?”
As this day comes to a close, that question lingers in the quiet of the evening. Pride rarely announces itself loudly. It slips in subtly—through self-sufficiency, defensiveness, or the quiet assumption that we no longer need to seek God as earnestly as we once did. Scripture speaks plainly: “In his pride the wicked does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God” (Psalm 10:4). The most alarming effect of pride is not outward arrogance but inward displacement. It pushes God to the margins of our thoughts.
Proverbs warns us with sobering clarity: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Pride promises stability but produces collapse. It convinces us we are standing firm when, in reality, we are leaning on our own fragile understanding. At the end of a long day, it is wise to ask: Where did pride subtly shape my words? Where did I rely on my own strength rather than God’s wisdom? Reflection is not meant to shame us but to recalibrate us.
Yet Scripture also offers hope. “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). The Hebrew concept behind humility carries the sense of being bowed low—not humiliated, but rightly aligned before God. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it is thinking of ourselves less and thinking of God more. In seasons approaching Lent or any time of spiritual renewal, this posture becomes especially meaningful. The cross itself is the ultimate picture of humility—Christ lowering Himself that we might be raised. As we wind down tonight, humility becomes a place of rest. We release the burden of self-exaltation and entrust our lives to God’s steady hand.
Triune Prayer
Father, You are the Most High, exalted above all yet attentive to the humble. As I reflect on this day, I confess the subtle ways pride has crept into my thoughts. There were moments when I assumed I knew best, when I acted independently of Your wisdom. Forgive me for any space where I crowded You out. Teach me to make room for You in every thought and decision. Shape in me a lowly spirit that seeks You continually. I am grateful that You do not despise a contrite heart but welcome it. Tonight, I lay aside self-reliance and rest in Your sovereignty.
Jesus, Son of God and Lamb of God, You modeled humility in its purest form. Though You were equal with God, You took on the form of a servant and humbled Yourself to the point of death—even death on a cross. When my pride rises, remind me of Your example. Guard my heart from the desire for recognition or control. Help me to follow You not only in public faith but in private surrender. Thank You for bearing the consequences of my sin, including the pride that so easily entangles me. Let Your humility shape my character and Your grace steady my steps.
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth and Comforter, search my heart tonight. Illuminate attitudes I may not see clearly. Where pride disguises itself as strength, reveal it. Where humility is needed, cultivate it. Empower me to seek God earnestly, to listen more than I speak, and to trust more than I strive. As I rest, continue Your quiet work within me. Align my desires with God’s will so that tomorrow I rise with a spirit that is teachable, gentle, and receptive to Your guidance.
Thought for the Evening
Before you close your eyes tonight, ask God to reveal one area where humility can grow in your life. Surrender it intentionally. Pride isolates; humility restores communion. Let your final act of the day be an act of quiet surrender.
For further reflection on humility and spiritual growth, consider this helpful article from Desiring God:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-beauty-of-humility
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