There are many ways to pray for wisdom humbly.
“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words” (Daniel 10:12).
Last week we drew from the well of this Scripture the first principle of inquiring of God for wisdom: you must set your heart to understand.
Principle 2: Pray for wisdom humbly
The next principle in Daniel 10:12 of asking for wisdom is to humble yourself before your God, as the angel said Daniel had done. Humility is needed because James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Wisdom is a grace from God, and therefore we need humility to receive it.
Daniel humbled himself by fasting. Daniel 10:2–3 says, “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.” He denied himself pleasure and comfort, and his purpose in this was to humble himself.
But humility is the point, not fasting. Fasting is good and helpful, but not without sincere humility as its motive and purpose.
That’s because a person can fast with pride and self-righteousness. Luke 18:9–14 says, “[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”
In this parable Jesus calls our attention to the importance of sincere humility and its effect. Although the Pharisee fasted, and prayed in the temple, he was arrogant. The tax collector was truly humble even though Jesus said nothing about whether he was fasting.
So the point is sincere humility. God exalts the humble. To them he gives grace.
Ways to humble yourself
Attitudes and actions commonly associated in the Bible with self-humbling include:
- Confessing and repenting of sin. (James 4:6–10)
- Kneeling and bowing before God. (Psalm 95:6–7)
- Worshiping and thanking God. (Romans 11:33–36; 1 Corinthians 15:10)
- Acknowledging need, inability, and dependence on God. (John 15:4–8)
- Fasting. (Ezra 8:21; Daniel 10)
- Serving others. (John 13:1–5; 12–17)
- Considering others more significant. (Philippians 2:3–11)
- Surrendering prerogatives and taking a low estate. (Philippians 2:5–8)
- Obeying God’s commands. (John 15:5–10; Isaiah 58)
- Being correctible and teachable. (Psalm 32:8–9; 81:10–12)
- Submitting to others. (Ephesians 5:21)
- Submitting to those in authority. (1 Peter 5:5)
- Enduring suffering patiently. (1 Peter 5:6–10)
All the above are relevant as we seek to humble ourselves before God and receive from him the gracious gift of wisdom.
Jeremiah 9:23–24: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” (ESV)