Mind of Christ: Ep 8: The Posture of Power: Humility That Lifts

0:12 Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast with your host, Connie Morris, where healing has a voice and truth is no longer silent. Father God, like Jabez, we cry out that thou would bless us indeed. Bless every woman listening beyond trauma, beyond limits, beyond what she thought was possible. Enlarge her territory. Expand her purpose. Let your hand be upon this moment. Saturate every word with oil and truth. break cycles, cancel every curse sent to silence her. This isn't just a podcast. This is holy ground. In Jesus' name, amen.

0:53 Hello, and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and we're continuing with our Faith on the Ghost series. Today's title is The Posture of Power. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. That is why this space was created for your quiet moments, your work days, commutes, and those in between places where your spirit just needs to be refilled. It's going to go for the times when you're fighting battles, not yet one. But already finished in Christ. It's the ones who keep believing, keep pressing, and keep walking, even when the road gets long and narrow. So wherever you are today, settle in and let the word of God strengthen your faith while you are on the go.

1:40 Apostle of power still comes from a mind of humility. Let's go with our key scripture found in Philippians 2, verse 8 through 9. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. When Jesus walked the earth, he could have commanded legions of angels. He could have silenced his accusers, defended his name, or demanded his rights. Instead, he chose silence, surrender, and stillness, not because he lacked power, but because he was power under control.

2:26 He stood before Pilate, wrongly accused. The governor marveled that Jesus wouldn't defend himself. Do you not realize I have the power to release you or crucify you? Pilate asked. Jesus replied, you have no power over me if it weren't given to you from above. John 19, 10-11. That's humility. Divine restraint wrapped in confidence. He didn't need to prove who he was. He already knew. Humility is not weakness. It's wisdom in motion. It's a posture that says, I don't need to see him. Be seen to be secure. Jesus bowed low and the father lifted him high.

3:09 I love this. Let's just pause and let's go back to this conversation between Pilate and Jesus. Jesus stood before Pilate and Pilate said, do you not realize I have the power to release you or crucify you? And Jesus said, you will not have power over me. It was not given to you from above. So Jesus knew that delegated authority that Pilate had. And he humbled himself before Pilate and let him do what he did. Why? Because it was according to what the father wanted. The mind of Christ understands that humility precedes honor. The world says, stand tall and be noticed, but heaven says, bow low and be lifted high.

3:53 When Jesus washed the disciples' feet, he took the position of a servant, not because he was lesser, but because he was Lord. He taught them, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Mark 10, 43. Humility is the language of heaven, and pride is the dialect of the fall. Satan was cast down for pride. Jesus was lifted up for humility. Humility doesn't mean thinking less of yourself. It means thinking of yourself less. It's the quiet strength that knows, Promotion comes from God, not people. Humble yourself, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

4:38 1 Peter 5, 6. Let's talk about this promotion that comes from God and not people. You know, have you ever, I know many of you work, and so you're in probably the same kind of situation I may be. Especially if there's a promotion pending, and there's an application that allows you to get promoted, and you complete the application, and you're the top candidate. And all of a sudden, people start to notice you. People start to notice you. And you know, crabs like to have everybody down at the bottom. And so you can get caught up if you realize that your promotion comes from God, that he's situated you in this place so that you can represent him.

5:20 And so when you seek him and he promotes you, don't you go to the people asking for their approval. You just do your job. If Jesus could kneel before those who would deny doubt and desert him, what excuse do we have not to serve in love? Humility keeps your spirit light and your motive pure. It protects you from pride, deception, and positions you for divine elevation. The Lord you bow before God, the higher he can trust you to rise before men. Ask yourself, am I seeking to be seen or serving because I've been sent? Do I seek credit for what only God could praise me for? Can I celebrate others' victory without feeling unseen in mine?

6:07 Heaven promotes those who can handle recognition without losing reverence. Do never forget where your promotion came from. It came from the Lord. Let's walk it out like Jesus. Number one, choose the lower seat. Jesus taught when you are invited, take the lowest place. Luke 14, 10. Let humility be your default position and God will handle the elevation. This is interesting because I go, you know, I'm in different circles and we have at our tabernacle, we have, you know, seats assigned. To the elderly, to the mobility challenge, I call them, and don't have a problem with that. It's not a problem.

6:49 But I do have a problem when people come in early and violate the rules because they've sat in that seat last week and they don't leave room for new people to sit. And so knowing my background as a police officer, you know, I'm fair and we're not saving seats. Either you sit there or you don't, right? You know, not being mean, just saying, hey, you know, I sat here last week. Oh, wow, there's no room for you this week, right? I could buy you another seat. But it's so hard because people want what they want, and even in the church, right? And so when you're invited, take the lowest place. Let humility be your default position. God will handle the elevation. The people are humble and say, okay, thank you. We always have a seat for them.

7:33 Number two, acknowledge God in every success. Give him credit openly. Gratitude keeps pride from growing roots. James 117, when God opens the door that only he can open, you have to acknowledge that he is on the move, that he is on the move. Serve, number three, serve quietly, give generously. Do good in secret. Your father will reward you openly. Todd said he rewards you openly. Matthew 6, 4, serve quietly and give generously. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Just do it. You don't have to have a parade. You don't need a banner.

8:13 You don't need to post it, take a video of it. You just need to just do it. Number four, stay teachable. Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. Hebrews 5, 8. The humble heart stays moldable. You know, the humble heart stays moldable. Moldable. I just want to just let that sit in you that don't ever get that hard heart that's not moldable, right? That's where you kind of, you reek with anger for no reason, you know? Just angry for no reason. You allowed your heart to become hard. Now nothing works on your behalf because God can't get in there. Just begin to humble yourself and it will soften your heart so that God can come in and finish his work.

8:59 Remember the cross before the crown. Jesus' exaltation came after his sacrifice. True authority comes through humility, Philippians 2, 9-12. Let's pray. Father, thank you for showing me that humility is not weakness, it's strength and surrender. Keep me low enough to hear your voice and pure enough to reflect your heart. When pride whispers, remind me of the cross. When recognition comes, let me deflect the glory back to you. Help me walk with quiet confidence, knowing that every elevation is your doing. In Jesus' name, amen. I have the mind of Christ. I walk in humility and divine strength. I don't strive for status. I serve with sincerity.

9:42 As I bow low in obedience, God lifts me up in purpose. My posture is humility. My reward is His presence. Where is God asking you to humble yourself today? In your words, in your service, or your response, so that He can lift you higher in His timing. Where is He asking you to bow low to? Just a pause for effect here. You have been listening to Faith on the Go with your host, Connie Morris, from Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I pray that this word energizes your faith. And reminded you of God's promise. Isaiah 55, 11 reminds us here that his word would not return void.

10:25 So whatever God asking you to do in obedience, it is not done without a reward. It would not return empty-handed. Give it a test. Give it a try. Let me know what you find out. Philippians 1, 6 says, he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ. Remember that God will finish what he started in you. So keep believing, keep walking, and keep trusting. In Jesus' name, amen. I pray and I see you on the next episode. Thank you for listening to this episode. And before we close out, I want to speak a word of promise over you from Jeremiah 29, 11 through 14.

11:08 Father God, you declared, I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. So today we receive that truth. You said when we call on you, you will listen. So we pray. You said that when we seek you with our hearts, you will be found. So we pursue. You said you will restore us from captivity. So we declare freedom over every place where our listeners feel stuck, silenced, or small. Thank you for always drawing near when we show up in faith. In Jesus' name, amen.