With an open heart, this book will open your eyes! | Humility: True Greatness

How to be humble in # easy steps. | Humility: True Greatness | C. J. Mahaney

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	• Humility: True Greatness C. J. Mahaney Multnomah Books, 2005 - 176 pages average customer review:based on 33 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Value of Humility

Humility is not a bestselling topic. In a world that celebrates pride, achievement, and the success and glory of individuals, it is difficult to convince many that greatness lies in reverence. In his book, "Humility, True Greatness," C.J. Mahanney gives us hope that humility still has its value. He makes clear in his introduction his qualifications for writing this book.

"I'm a proud man pursuing humility by the grace of God. I don't write as an authority on humility. I write as a fellow pilgrim walking with you on the path set before us by our humble savior."

This book is very practical. Mahanney starts out writing of the dangers of pride and the blessings of living humbly. He then describes how not only the Bible but also the examples of corporate America show that it is most often driven leaders that "were self-effacing and modest" who rose to the top. Even more rewarding is the concept that "humility draws down the gaze of [...] God," but that it takes God to practice genuine humility.

In the second half of this book, Mahanney suggests to the reader how to practice this journey to pursue humility. Chapters include "As Each Day Begins," "As Each Day Ends," "Identifying Evidences of Grace," and "Encouraging Others," and each gives great stories and examples to cultivate a life of humility and more vivid understanding of its presence in daily living.

Mahanney finishes the book describing the legacy of greatness left behind after a life of humility, and gives us a list of suggestions to reference as we seek to apply these ideas to our lives.

After listening to a pastor give an address to his congregation on the topic of "Finding Joy in Humility" (Pastor Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle), I remembered his reference of Mahanney's book, and used the power of Amazon.com to acquire my own copy right away. The book has a lot to offer to anyone who might open up their heart to the principle that is guaranteed to lead to true greatness.

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With an open heart, this book will open your eyes!

Short, consise, well-versed, advice on living a life of humility, not as the world sees it (weakness, shyness), but as seen through the eyes of God. True greatness is achieved through true humility.
And C.J. Mahaney systematically lays out a blueprint for God's plan for our life. God's plan; not our plan. This is the key to understanding true humility; understanding that we must be servants, as Christ demonstrated, in order to remain on the path that God has chosen for us.
Are you willing to lay all at the foot of God in order to let him transform you in to a creature that is successful; at home, at work, at play. God wants success for his people, but he desires humility.
A continual reference to one key point in this book is that God gives grace to the humble. Well, as we all know, God's grace is all we have to begin with because we are nothing without him, but now we see that there is something that we can do to draw God's gaze and bring grace to our lives. What a true relief. Through true biblical humility, we can attract God's gaze, draw his attention and receive blessings beyond which we have already, through grace, received. How humbling, how encouraging, how exciting!
I have suffered many setbacks in my life, inlcuding 10 years in darkness after I turned my back on God, but this book, the first that I read when I truly dedicated my life to the Lord, has led to such a great understanding of what God has for us, for me.
C.J. Mahaney uses real-life analogies and stories to relate the message that is repeated throughout God's word, and he backs all of that up with scripture.
I cannot more highly recommend a life changing book, especially for a new Christian; this book will provide the foundation for all future endeavors in your life in God's will. This book helped me to understand that I was self-centered, egocentric and selfish; even with my wife and daughters who I love and thought I would do anything for. It helped me to find the places, deep inside, that I needed to change in order to effectively humble myself in every facet of my life.
I still suffer trials, to be honest, I feel that I suffer more since I became a true Christian, but I see them as a blessing, a gift, an opportunity for me to, as it says in James, grow in faith. James 1:2-3 (not referenced in the book, but so very valid here) states; "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (NIV). What an encouragement! What a blessing! GRACE!!!
Please, read this book. The chapters are short enough for a devotional period and the results, if you are receptive to God's word, are remarkable.
Humility, despite what the world believes, is the key to happiness both here and in the hereafter.

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How to be humble in # easy steps.

Ok, so it's not quite that simple, nor does the book claim that. However reading this book has given me a fresh prespective and desire for humility. As someone who is now striving for humility as well, I highly recommend this book. I learned of this book while listing to a podcasted sermon on humilty. The pastor was not one who often expressed the gift of humilty and he stated that much of his message came from this book. So there you go!

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Incredibly Helpful book

As I have observed with all of CJ's books and teaching, this book shows the marks of the Spirit producing a man after God's own heart.

This book was probably one of the shortest books I have read in a long time, but it may prove to be one of the most influential on me during this season of my life. Being one of the guys who Collin Hansen's CT article described as Young Restless and Reformed, I have seen an increasing love for theology and the Sovereignty of God, yet a disconnect between a theology that emphasizes God's grace as so supreme and a lack of humility like the force of my attitude is truly what is in control. CJ's book was very helpful to put a more accurate frame how I see my life and the lives of others. "I am not a humble man, but a proud one, but I am a man who by God's grace am pursuing humility."

Oh how if each of us could get a tiny grasp of this in our own lives, how much more God glorifying would our interactions be with one another, even over hotly debated theological topics.

Thanks CJ for the courage to write this book. May God blow his breath on it to do many things to make Jesus look good!

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ouch

this is a great study of what I am not... ie humble... Yes, I agree with the entire premise, but I still would have preferred being comfortably ignorant of my arrogance and spiritual pride... yes, the cross is the only solution, and the disciplines suggested are simple, but to do them means that I would have to actually change...

I guess that was the point...

or the other point that it is not actually about me.

Be Transformed by Christ?s Example

?God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.? ?1 Peter 5:5

A battle rages within every one of us every day. It?s the clash between our sense of stubborn self-sufficiency and God?s call to recognize that we?re really nothing without Him. It?s pride versus humility. And it?s a fight we can?t win without looking repeatedly to Christ and the cross. C. J. Mahaney raises a battle cry to daily, diligently, and deliberately weaken our greatest enemy (pride) and cultivate our greatest friend (humility). His thorough examination clarifies misconceptions, revealing the truth about why God detests pride and turns His active attention to the humble. Because pride is never passive, defeating it demands an intentional attack. The blessing that follows is God?s abundant favor.

?This is the one to whom I will look:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit.?

?Isaiah 66:2, esv

God clearly states that He is drawn to the humble. He?s also clear that He opposes the proud. These two, humility and pride, cannot coexist. Where one is fostered, the other is defeated.

Which will you pursue?

C. J. Mahaney paints a striking picture of the daily battle quietly raging within every Christian and asks whether you will passively accommodate the enemy of your soul, pride, or actively cultivate your best friend, humility. When you acknowledge the deception of pride and intentionally humble yourself, you become free to savor abundant mercies and unlikely graces. You will find a new life is yours?a life God richly favors. A God-glorifying life you don?t want to miss.

?C. J. Mahaney is not humble. At least, that?s what he?ll tell you. And that?s one reason he?s so well qualified to write this book.?

Mark E. Dever

Senior pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church

Author, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

?A much-needed wake-up call on this important subject. I highly recommend this book.?

Jerry Bridges

Author of The Pursuit of Holiness

?This is the right book from the right man at the right time.?

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Story Behind the Book

?Given pride?s pervasive presence in my life, I come to this book in holy fear, yet inspired by God?s promises to be humble and sobered by his warnings to the proud (Isaiah 66:2b, 1 Peter 5:5b). Scripture reveals to us that, while pride was the first and most serious sin, God is decisively drawn to humility and is specifically supportive of the humble. Only Christ has fully obeyed Isaiah 66:2b (?This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word?), yet He did so as our representative! How marvelous that in our daily battle against pride we can rely on God?s grace, through the gospel, and thus bring honor and glory to God.? ?C. J. Mahaney

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