It's one thing to pray for humility. It's quite another to live it. Our desire to be humble may lead us to do acts of servanthood —helping in the nursery, babysitting when it's inconvenient, running errands. But this can quickly turn into pride. Author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada said it well: "We grab for humility and —poof —it disappears like stardust through our fingers."

So how can we know when we are truly humble? We can't! But when serving others becomes second nature to us, we are pursuing the ideal that Jesus set forth in Matthew 23. After pointing out that the scribes and Pharisees were always seeking power and position, He said, "He who humbles himself will be exalted" (v.12).

Senator Mark Hatfield exemplified the spirit of service Jesus advocated. He attended a weekly Bible study at his church in Washington, DC, along with other politicians and professionals. As soon as the meetings ended, most rushed off to their jobs. But Senator Hatfield usually stayed to stack chairs —and he was the highest ranking official there!

When serving others comes from the inside out, as a true deed of compassion, we are growing in humility. But we won't know it. We'll be doing it naturally. That's what true humility is all about.  — David C. Egner