Dr. Dallas Willard, a man distinguished for his years of teaching in the philosophy department at the University of Southern California, was also known for his vibrant walk with Jesus.

On one occasion when he was speaking at a Wheaton College chapel service on the subject of “Life in the Spirit,” he stressed the importance of humility in the person who is truly seeking the kingdom of God. His text for this section of his message was 1 Peter 5, verses 5 and 6: “And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another. . . . Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (NLT).

Dr. Willard suggested three steps to humility that all begin with the letter “P.”

Step #1: Never pretend. Dropping the habit of pretending can be very freeing. Think of all the energy it takes pretending to be something or someone you aren’t.

Step #2: Never presume—that is, never presume that you should be treated in a certain way, either good or bad. Be exactly who you are where you are right now. That decision takes the burden off your shoulders to try to influence others to treat you differently than you deserve.

Step #3: Never push. Stand for what is right; stand for who you are, stand for God. But let Him do the pushing. This resolution frees you from having to push yourself to a position of prominence. Being humble does not mean that you are passive. In fact, he noted, humility actually means that there isn’t anything you wouldn’t undertake because you are under the hand of God.

Three great concepts: never pretend, never presume, never push. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Worth remembering!