Humility acknowledges our need for God, allowing us to approach Him with the honesty required for effective prayer.
In Psalm 86, David starts his prayer by recognizing his own poverty and need. This humility is essential because it reflects a true understanding of our condition before God. James 4:6 states, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' When we come before God with a humble heart, we are admitting our inability to save ourselves and our complete reliance on His mercy. This attitude prepares us to receive from him, as Jesus remarked in Matthew 5:3, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' Recognizing our low state allows us to embrace the grace offered through Christ, who became poor so we could be rich.
Scripture References:
James 4:6, Matthew 5:3, Psalm 86:1-7
Commentary