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Day Six: Spiritual Growth is a Process

To gather and eat the bread from heaven means a change in our diet. As we continue on the journey, we gradually decrease our appetite for the "meat pots of Egypt" – from "What’s in it for me?" – to the heavenly food of "How can I serve?" We stop looking for ways to perpetuate negativity and discouragement and start looking for the ways that the Lord is giving us hope, healing and peace. We undergo a subtle inversion in our lives. It is significant that the bread fell on the ground, and the people had to stoop over in order to gather it into their tents. To bend at the knee means a state of humility. We humble ourselves by giving up our former states of self-love and pity, and we trust in the real food the Lord gives us by taking the opportunities He gives us to serve. Remember those beautiful words given through Moses: "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat" (Exodus 16:15).

They therefore prostrated themselves face downwards on the ground, indeed they wallowed in dust and ashes, and also cast dust or ashes over their heads. By these actions they represented a state of true humility, which can in no way exist unless people acknowledge that of themselves they are incapable of looking towards the Lord... to the extent that we acknowledge our own condition we can possess true humility. Secrets of Heaven 2327

Humbling ourselves before the Lord can take many different forms in our lives. It can mean changing our habits and making worship a priority. It can mean being willing to admit that we are wrong and asking for forgiveness. It can mean taking a breath and listening to another person’s point of view. On a deeper level, humbling ourselves means acknowledging that God is God and that we are not.

Key Point
Stop perpetuating negativity and discouragement and start looking for and nurturing the ways that the Lord is giving hope, healing and peace.

Gratitude Exercise: Make a List
Today I am thankful for...

Reflections
When in your life have you felt humble? In what areas of your life would you like to strive for more humility?

Download the Gratitude Exercise and Reflection in printable form. (PDF)

Discussion Board
Share your thoughts on today's Journey in the discussion board.

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