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True humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it is thinking more of others. It is not putting ourselves down; it is lifting God up. Those are two truths about humility. Here’s another one, from The Relationship Principles of Jesus:
Humility is not denying my strengths; it is being openly honest about my weaknesses.
There is one question you can almost surely count on when you’re going for a job interview: What is your greatest weakness? It seems to be a standard question to ask a potential employee. I think the idea behind that question must be that a truly mature person will certainly talk about their strengths and why they are qualified for the job, but they should also be realistic about their shortcomings.
God has gifted all of us with strengths and denying those strengths does not make us humble. That is simply denying God’s goodness to us and in us. I have learned to appreciate the strengths God has given me, the things he enables me to do that have opened doors of service for me. My life is rich and full because I am doing the good things he purposed for me to do, as we read in Ephesians 2:10. But I am fully aware of the fact that the very strengths of my personality can become my greatest weaknesses, if they are out of control.
So, appreciate how God has created you. Look in the mirror and say, “Thank you, God, because you have created me. . .” and then fill in the blank. God intends for you and me to enjoy and appreciate his creativity in us. Whatever talents and abilities you have are gifts from God; therefore, we give God glory when we thank him for them.
And then be honest about what you need to work on. Pray about those areas of weakness. Maybe you find it difficult to be patient; that’s one of my greatest weaknesses. Admit it, pray about it, and let God empower you to be more patient. Maybe you have a lazy streak in you that causes you to waste time. Cough it up to the Lord, and pray he’ll help you put that behind you. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and humility is not denying our strengths, but being openly honest about our weaknesses.