The center of His will. I have heard this statement throughout my Christian walk. Today, with a little help from a friend, I understand the depth of its meaning.
I once received a letter from a pastor friend. In it, he wrote, “Stay under the shadow of humility, not near the edge, but deep in the center, because God is going to lift you up, and it is your humility that will keep you grounded in Jesus.”
Don’t stay near the edge of humility, but deep in the center.
This phrase went over and over in my mind. All night, I meditated on his statement, asking God to reveal the depth of it to me. When I awoke the next morning, God answered that prayer.
I awoke early the next morning and sat up in bed. My first thought was to stay deep in the center of humility. As quickly as that thought came, God began to speak to me. He said, “it is just like the property you are searching for.” In those few short words, I saw the revelation of this truth.
I have been searching for property for a few years—yes, years! What I am looking for is not easy to find. I am looking for a house with land. I want to develop a place of refuge for weary believers.
I am looking for a particular piece of property. Every property I have come across has a house on the edge. I am looking for a property that has a house in the center. You see, I am looking for a home with land all around the house, so I would have to travel to get outside of my property. This would guarantee me security, seclusion, and peace.
Most people want a house on the edge of the property, so the exit is easily accessible and often less expensive to create.
So, it is with the center of humility. God showed me this morning that being in the center of humility and not on the edge would also provide me security and peace. Why? because I would have to travel a distance to move outside of humility.
If I live on the edge of humility, I also live on the edge of pride. Every property line borders something. Humility borders pride. To be safe in the realm of humility, I must be in the center of it, not on the edge.
If I am on the edge of God’s will, I am also on the edge of disobedience. However, if I stay in the center of God’s will, I must travel a long distance to remove myself from His will.
If I am on the edge of love, I am also on the edge of hate. But, if I stay in the center of love, I will have to travel to walk out of it.
With humility, if I press in until I am in the center of humility, pride is far from me. I love that.
Remember, if you live on the edge of anything, it will always border something else.
My friends, it is not enough to be on the edge of God’s will. In the center of His will is the only place to be. I have never been a person who wants to live on the edge. I want to live in the center of all God’s Word says belongs to me. In the center of humility. In the center of love. In the center of peace. In the center of His will. May it be so for each of us today.
