That sounds a bit unbiblical, doesn’t it? But I put “credit” in quotes because I need a moment to lay the groundwork for this week’s post, and to put that in the proper perspective.

While humility isn’t my strong suit, I am learning to give glory to God more and more as I see him move in myriad ways in my life. This ministry is the perfect example. Whenever someone praises me for a post or a book or a presentation, I’m quick to give God the credit. I do so because I absolutely feel that he works through me in more ways than I’m even aware of.

So, little by little, I’m learning that hard-fought humility, trying to put my own self-pride aside and shine the light on what God does through me.

Recently I read the book, “Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become Like Him, Do as He Did” by John Mark Comer (highly recommend, by the way).

Here are a couple of excerpts that got my attention, and ultimately changed how I look at this season of my life.

“Formation into the image of Jesus is a long, slow process, not a one-time event. There’s no lightning bolt from heaven. Spiritual growth is similar to bodily growth – very gradual. It takes place over a lifetime at an incremental, at times imperceptible rate.”

The author went on to share a quote that jumped off the page at me!

“The spiritual teacher Pete Scazzero once told me a maxim that was passed on to him by an older, wiser mentor: ‘The best decade of your life will be your seventies, the second best will be your eighties, and the third will be your sixties.’ By best he did not mean the happiest (though I expect that too) but our richest and most joyful and helpful to others.”

What??!! I’m living in my third best decade, headed in a few years for my very best years? I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Mixed emotions, for sure. Excited to think that my two best decades could be ahead of me, but a little disappointed that I might have missed opportunities in the decades leading up to my sixties.

I have expressed to friends (usually around my age) that I definitely feel wiser than I did years ago. I do have a better understanding of God’s character and promises, I trust more completely in his sovereignty, and I see him working more clearly. But I must confess I have minimized that reality, seeing it as potentially prideful. I wanted to stay on the humility bandwagon.

What I failed to do was acknowledge the work that God was doing in my life through the decades-long process of sanctification. God has given me millions of life experiences (blessings and trials) that can all be used to mature me on my Christian walk.

When the “goal” of Christians is to become more Christ-like, why was I downplaying that important work?

What about you? Are you quick to announce how God has brought major changes, might I suggest improvements, to your life and your character? Or are you subconsciously minimizing that powerful work as I was?

As is so often the case, some balance is critical to doing this well. Yes, being humble is a quality God wants to instill in his people, to be a humble servant as Jesus was. But we should be bold in proclaiming the good works God has done in and through us.

We take “credit” by acknowledging God’s work, and give the ultimate credit (no quotes) to him who deserves all the glory. Amen and amen!

But you were washed, you were sanctified,

you were justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:10