The first step in growing is so often found in lowering:  lowering ourselves in recognition that I need help, I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to respond, and I certainly don’t have it all together. “Lord, how I need You!”

Or as Eugene Peterson wrote, “The first step in learning is bowing down to God.”  Think about that as we ask ourselves, “Is that typically MY first step?  To bow down – yet look up – to Him?”  Or do we forget to lower ourselves, humble ourselves, and bow down, mistakingly turning to self-sufficient means or human wisdom, regardless of its good intention?

The good news is that it’s NEVER TOO LATE to bow down to Him. It’s never too late to cry out for help. Every day is a new opportunity to lower ourselves BEFORE Him, knowing that in doing so, He will be faithful to grow us up IN Him and His ways (wisdom). 

For, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel…” (Proverbs 1:5)

May the posture of our heart today – and all of our days – be, “Lord, how I need You!  I bow myself before You, that You might teach me Your ways and make me wise, thus allowing me to hear – really hear – and increase in learning.”