And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

In many modern societies, humility is for the most part overlooked as an admirable character trait. Confidence, assertiveness, and determination gain more respect. Yet Jesus taught that a deep desire of his followers should be humility of heart.

The humble heart acknowledges that without God's mercy there would be no forgiveness and no promise of eternal life. It recognizes that even when we desire to live moral lives, we often fail. The humble heart also concedes that without God we can accomplish little in this life of lasting value.

Humility allows us to be unmoved by unavoidable irritations or by serious wrongs brought against us. Beyond that, humility permits us to look with compassion upon those who frustrate or discourage us, and even upon those who knowingly cause us pain.

A humble heart endures patiently, harbors no malice, and defers graciously to the needs of others. Without humility, we are constantly ruffled, permitting the gusts of daily life to raise internal crosswinds. Our spirits become a churning sea that cannot be at rest.

The word "humble" is derived from the Latin "humus", meaning fertile soil. When a seed is planted in fertile soil it comes to life. Cast upon hardened earth, seeds dry up and decay, never becoming what they were meant to be. Likewise, only in a humble heart can the seeds of God's peace, love, and joy come to life within us. Then we can become more like Christ, which is what we are meant to be.

No matter what society insists, Jesus calls us to be humble toward one another. But where does the journey to humility begin? Perhaps the answer is found in the prophet Micah's counsel. We begin by walking humbly with our God.