The Hill of Humility
by Tracy Bankuti
When God asks a question through His word it isn’t because He is at a loss for the answer. For instance, when God asked Adam the question. “Where are you?” in Genesis 3:9, God had not misplaced Adam. However, Adam was completely unaware that he was lost and in danger eternally.
God asks us questions to help us move into a place of safety and reality, close to Him and away from danger. Today, God challenges us with a thought-provoking question that, in reality, is an invitation beckoning us into deeper intimacy. Deeper intimacy with our Father will always result in growth and maturity in our walk with Him.
The psalmist has graciously given us the answer to the question that God is posing today. ‘He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.’ These words were written by king David, a man who understood through many challenging life circumstances, including some devastating sinful choices, that God was more interested in the state of his heart than his strength or abilities.
I once attended a women’s conference with some friends and was struck by one young woman who was part of the church leading the conference. My first glimpse of her was on the stage as she was joyfully leading us in worship. Her voice and guitar playing was nothing special and yet the Spirit of the Lord was clearly present, as everyone was deeply moved by the time the worship was over.
The next time I saw this young woman she was cleaning the toilets and emptying all the garbage containers around the conference centre. She moved between these two positions all weekend.
This was one of the most profound lessons I have ever learned about God’s Kingdom. The hill of humility is a downward journey not an upward one. ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves’ (Philippians 2:3). I was humbled and greatly challenged watching this young woman serve so selflessly. I don’t know her name, yet I have never forgotten her. She cleaned the toilets as joyfully as she led worship.
When the Lord invites us to ascend upward to join Him in His holiness we must be prepared to go lower. ‘Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up’ (James 4:10). In our Father’s Kingdom, up is down! Are you interested in the stage? Are you ready to clean the toilet?
Tracy Bankuti has been part of the team at Ellel Canada East since December 2009 after coming on a healing retreat and taking the training courses with her husband George. God has miraculously restored her marriage of 35 years, her family and health and she now serves on full time team along-side her husband and daughter Allicia. She is passionate about restoration for families, enjoys teaching, ministering, playing her guitar and hiking in the forest.
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