Morning Prayer: The Man Who Humbles Himself

 


Morning prayer gives us a line that sounds simple but is anything but:

“I will lift up in glory the man who humbles himself.”

Humility is one of those virtues everyone praises but few define. It’s often mistaken for self‑erasure, self‑doubt, or shrinking so others can shine. But real humility is not smallness. It is clarity — about who we are, who we are not, and how we stand in right relationship with others and with God.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking truthfully, without distortion, without inflation, without fear.

And that truth looks different depending on where you stand.

At Work: Humility as Steadiness, Not Self‑Diminishment

Humbling yourself at work does not mean letting people walk over you or pretending you have no competence. It means:

  • Doing the work without needing applause. You let the results speak, not the ego.

  • Listening before asserting. You assume others may see angles you don’t.

  • Taking correction without collapse. Humility absorbs feedback without turning it into shame.

  • Letting others succeed without feeling threatened. Their win is not your loss.

Humility at work is the quiet confidence that your value is not measured by titles, noise, or visibility.

At Play: Humility as Freedom

Play reveals ego faster than any workplace. Games, hobbies, sports — they expose competitiveness, insecurity, and the desire to be admired.

Humbling yourself at play means:

  • Letting yourself be a beginner. You don’t need mastery to enjoy something.

  • Laughing at your mistakes. Not defensively, but with genuine lightness.

  • Letting others shine. You don’t need to dominate the board game, the pickleball court, or the conversation.

  • Choosing joy over victory. Humility makes room for delight.

Humility here is spaciousness — the ability to enjoy without performing.

In the Community: Humility as Service

Community life is where humility becomes visible. It’s not theoretical; it’s embodied.

To humble yourself in community is to:

  • Show up when it’s inconvenient. Humility doesn’t wait for perfect conditions.

  • Do the unglamorous tasks. Chairs, dishes, sweeping — the work that keeps a community alive.

  • Let others lead. Even when you could do it “better.”

  • Listen to stories that are not your own. Humility honors the dignity of every voice.

Humility in community is the willingness to be part of something larger than yourself without needing to be the center of it.

In the Family: Humility as Love Without Scorekeeping

Family is where pride digs in deepest — and where humility heals most.

Humbling yourself in the family means:

  • Apologizing first. Even when you’re only 10% wrong.

  • Letting go of the need to be right. Peace is often more important than precision.

  • Seeing others’ vulnerabilities without exploiting them. Humility protects.

  • Accepting help without shame. Pride isolates; humility connects.

Humility in family life is the courage to soften.

When You Are All Alone: Humility as Truthfulness Before God

This is the hardest one.

Humbling yourself when no one is watching means:

  • Admitting your motives honestly. Not the polished version — the real one.

  • Letting God see the parts you hide from yourself. Humility is transparency.

  • Acknowledging your dependence. Not as weakness, but as belonging.

  • Letting go of the stories you tell to protect your ego. Alone, humility becomes purification.

This is where the promise of morning prayer becomes real: God lifts up the one who stops lifting himself.

Not because humility earns glory, but because humility makes room for grace.


Read more Morning Prayer posts: MSI Press Blog

Note about Morning Prayer: Each morning prayer post reflects on one phrase from the Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. which can be found in the iBreviary (a downloadable app), Universalis (website) or Divine Office (publication and website). Post may be assisted by AI in image generation and content (research and/or wording).

Morning Prayer posts inspired by Being Catholic in Troubled Times (Dennis Ortman)

Book Description:

These are times that try our souls. This book is addressed to all, not just Catholics, who search for deeper meaning in tough times. Our age is marked by division and alienation. We long for some message that will bring peace to our world and our hearts.

This book suggests that the Catholic faith can provide strength in these troubled times. The word "catholic" means "all-embracing, universal." Nothing is excluded in the catholic mind. The truth that sets us free can be found everywhere, especially in unexpected places. It is often hidden in plain sight. In our darkest moments, we find new light and life. When we are most despairing, a ray of hope shines through.



Dr. Dennis Ortman, former priest and current psychologist, is the author of Anger Anonymous, Anxiety Anonymous, Depression Anonymous, Being Catholic in Troubled Times, and Life, Liberty, and COVID-19.


For more posts by and about Dennis and his award-winning books, click HERE.



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