“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].  Isaiah 57:15 AMP

The Lord is high and lifted up—there is none like Him in the heavens and in the earth. He is the Creator—the mighty one —no one can stand before Him. He inhabits eternity—He has no beginning and no end—He is the great I AM. He is Holy and righteous. But one thing He is not—He is not proud or arrogant. Psalms 113:5-6 AMP says, “Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!” Even though He is so powerful, He chooses to humble Himself to reach down and see us, reach out to us and care for us. It is because of His great love­—God IS Love (1 John 4:8+16)!

For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognizes [only] at a distance.  
Psalms 138:6 AMP

The Lord says that it is only those who are thoroughly humble and penitent who will be permitted to dwell with Him in eternity. The Lord cannot forgive anyone—as much as He would like to—unless they repent. Repentance is an acknowledgement of God’s supreme authority over your life. Without acknowledging God’s authority—you will not receive His grace—because you are self-sufficient and don’t think you need Him, keeping yourself at a distance. True repentance is when you are broken with sorrow over your sin. Without it you cannot appreciate nor receive the grace, forgiveness and restoration of the Father. Then He will revive and strengthen the heart of the humble—those submitted to Him and to His Word.

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] 6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, 7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. 8 And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!  Philippians 2:5-8 AMP

Jesus did not go to the cross for His own benefit—He went for yours and mine! He humbled Himself and lowered Himself to be born in the body of a man, to suffer, to die and to give His whole life for us all. He is our example in humility. Just as Jesus humbled Himself to die for us, so we must humble ourselves to repent and accept the free gift of God poured out in His blood.

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Matthew 5:3 AMP

The Kingdom of heaven will be filled with the humble-hearted. The proud will make their own way and be lost for all eternity. In Matthew 7:13-14 NIV Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  How sad that so many people are too proud to consider or acknowledge what great things God has done and provided for them. There are no difficult or impossible things that God asks of us in return for eternity with Him in glory and peace and joy. All He asks is that we hear Him and humble ourselves to do it His way.

And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. 4 Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.  
Matthew 18:3-5 AMP

Some people are so busy being a “grown-up”, they have become closed and hardened. They have allowed the devil —the god of this world to blinded their minds, preventing them from seeing and receiving the truth of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). We must not be so stuck up—we must become as humble and teachable as children so that we can receive all the great blessings that the Father has for us through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11 AMP

Because Jesus willingly stooped so low—He became highly exalted. Now every creature in heaven, on earth and even under the earth must bow their knee to Him and confess Him as Lord! If we will humble ourselves, God will exalt us into His very family and His very presence—forever! How wonderful is that? What a blessing and a privilege!

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).  James 4:6 AMP

So go ahead and humble yourself so that you will be able to receive all of God’s undeserved grace and mercy!