“He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble.” Luke 1:52 (NCV)

God always gives you a choice, and one of the most important choices you’ll make is whether to take his path for your life or to make your own way. And the truth is, following God’s plan for your life takes humility.

It takes humility to say, “God, I’m going to go with your plan, not my plan; I’m going your way, not my way.”

Pride says, “Forget you, God. I have my plans, dreams, and ambitions. I’m going to do what I want to do.”

But the Bible urges us over and over again to choose humility over pride. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (GNT). And Proverbs 18:12 says, “Before honor is humility” (NKJV). Then James 4:10 promises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (NLT).  

I want God to honor you—to honor your family, your business, your life. I want him to lift up your health and your finances. But the Bible says that all of these things start with humility.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew this was true. She said, “He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing” (Luke 1:51-53 NCV).

This is an amazing piece of poetry—and it paints the picture of how God works in ways that are opposite to our natural human instincts.

Mary wasn’t educated, but she knew God and knew his Word. And she knew that she wanted his blessings. So she humbled herself and chose to take his path for her life.

What about you? Are you proudly following your own path? Or have you humbled yourself and committed to following God’s path for you instead?