I’m already looking forward to the pie we’ll be having for Thanksgiving dinner.  What will it be?  Pumpkin or cherry?  Maybe my favorite, Dutch Apple?   Any of the above would be fine with me.  A little slice of this, a big piece of that. How about a dollop of ice cream?   See, I’m thankful already!  And I don’t even know if we’re having  pie for Thanksgiving!  Hey, can’t hate a guy for dreaming, can you!?

The Apostle Peter says to eat some humble pie this season.  He says, ‘Humble yourselves…under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:6-7).  ‘Humble yourselves’–not a suggestion.  A command.  Like taking an honest look at ourselves.  Being realistic about who we are.  Not demeaning ourselves or fostering a negative self-image, but rather a merciful and kindly look.

Examine that business about casting all your cares, anxieties and worries on the Lord.  In the original Greek that phrase is an adverbial participial phrase.  Which in plain English means that ‘casting our cares’ is directly connected to the verb… to humble ourselves.  I don’t think that was too plain!  Sorry about that. It’s Greek to me too!

Let me try that again.  When we worry and fret, bite our fingernails, it’s really a form of pride.  Putting those concerns on my shoulders rather than on His.  ‘I can handle it.   I’m tough.  I’ve got it under control’.  Nothing humble about that.

Remember, humble pie is not made with gravel that you can grovel in.  No.  No self-pitying ‘poor me’.   We can work hard at using the gifts God has given us.  But we also know that ‘all things work together for good’ (Romans 8:28),  and that when we need His help,  Jesus says to ‘come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28).  All through our lives,  Jesus is there helping and hauling, caring and carrying.   Being humble is thanking Him for all He’s doing for us.  Plain trusting the Lord.  No matter what.  Chew on that for awhile.  Wouldn’t it be good to have some humble pie this Thanksgiving?  Enjoy…!

Prayer:  Lord, for being there always, thank you.  A thousand times, thank you!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.