But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. – James 4:6-10 NIV

Humbling ourselves means recognizing that our worth comes from God alone. To be humble involves being strengthened by His power according to his guidance, not with our independent effort. Although we do not deserve Gods favour, he reaches out to us in love and gives us worth and dignity despite our human shortcomings. If you desire to draw closer to God, humility is the first and most important step.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

In this passage God is calling his people to pray. There are several key elements to successfully prayer mentioned in these verses. The second element of prayer mentioned here is that God requires the correct attitude of the heart. God desires those who humble themselves. Humility includes the idea of dependency which is the recognition that without God we can’t do anything. So praying by nature is an confession of our weakness and total dependence on God. In order to do this you heart must be humble enough to acknowledge that you are in need of Him. Pride in your heart will cause you to think that you can do it on your own and prevent your prayer from being answered by God.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. – 1 Peter 5:5-6 NIV

Pride often keeps older people from trying to understand young people and keeps young people from listening to those who are older. Here Peter told both young and old to be humble and to serve each other. Young men should follow the leadership of older men, and older men have to be humble to accept the wisdom of younger men when they hear it.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8

This verse talks about what is required to please God. It may be expected that God says to be just and kind towards others but it’s interesting that humility is mentioned here as well. The reason I think humility is required to please God is because of how much God is really doing for us every day. He’s waking us up in our right minds everyday. He has provided food and shelter for us. All that we are and all that we have comes from Him. So we can’t take the glory or praise for ourselves but always acknowledge Him for everything in our lives. This will keep us humble since it’s not by our might or power but by God’s spirit.

The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. – Matthew 23:11-12 NIV

Jesus challenged society’s norms. To him, greater comes from serving, giving yourself to help others. Serving keeps us aware of others needs and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves. Jesus came as a servant. To serve by saving us since we couldn’t save ourselves. Ask yourself, when was the last time you served someone? Someone who couldn’t do anything for you in return?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

Selfishness can ruin a church, but genuine humility can build it. Being humble involves having a true perspective about ourselves. It does not mean that we should put ourselves down. We are to lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy. Considering others interest as more important than our own links us with Jesus who was a true example of humility.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16:18 NIV

Proud people take little account of their weakness and don’t anticipate stumbling blocks. They think they are above the the frailties of other people. In this state of mind, they are easily tripped up. Proud people rarely realize that pride is their problem, although everyone around them is aware of it. For this reason it’s important to have trusted accountability partners close to you that can share the truth of your character with you so that you can avoid the pit fall of pride.