Review of Humility: True Greatness, Chapter 6 “As Each Day Ends”
How can we end the day in a way that cultivates humility and weakens pride? “By reviewing our day and carefully assigning all glory to God for the grace we’ve experienced that day.”
C. J. Mahaney quotes Puritan Thomas Watson, “When we have done anything praiseworthy, we must hide ourselves under the veil of humility, and transfer the glory of all we have done to God.” We should do this all day long as well as when we plunge into our pillows.
Sometimes we are shocked at well-known writers who commit plagiarism. Mahaney points out that we must avoid cosmic plagiarism by taking credit for impacting people’s lives through our ministries for what only God can accomplish. “Whatever successes you experience in your life and ministry and vocation, learn to immediately transfer the glory to Him.” That success may be your business, parenting, or preaching, or leadership.
“Another significant end-of-the-day entry to put into practice before you doze off: Receive the gift of sleep from God and acknowledge His purpose for sleep.”
David poetically praised God for the 6 days of creation in Psalm 104. In verses 19-24, David gives the poetic equivalent of Day 4: “He appointed the moon seasons: the sun knows his going down. You make darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goes forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.” After describing the gift of rest at night, David stops his description of day four and breaks forth in praise to the Lord: “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.”
Why not praise the Lord at night for the renewed strength we will receive from the Him for the next day’s work and ministry.
Sleep is humbling because we are reminded that we are limited and that only God “will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). God is not limited in strength like I am and He doesn’t need to sleep. Sleep is God’s means of physical refreshment that I must run on for each day and before the next day is done I am reminded again of my frailty and the need of more rest. Our gracious God should be praised not only for rest but for the humbling reminder of sleep.
