Am I poor in spirit?

Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired]
are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant],
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. - Matthew 5:3 (Amplified Bible)

To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge one’s spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is the opposite of the self-reliance which the world applauds. We are not spiritually self-sufficient. We cannot merit anything from God. Poverty of spirit is the first step toward the kingdom because it opens the heart to grace. - John Stott

What area of my life must I remove pride or self-sufficiency to fully acknowledge my spiritual bankruptcy before God?

The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: I live in that high and holy place where those with contrite, humble spirits dwell; and I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. - Isaiah 57:15 (Living Bible)

Only those who have completely surrendered their own will and have abandoned all claims of their own can be poor in spirit. They rely entirely upon the grace of Christ, for they know they have nothing apart from Him. - Oswald Chambers

What desire of my will do I need to replace with His will?

He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:  “Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’  But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but was striking his chest [in humility and repentance], saying, ‘God, be merciful  gracious to me, the [especially wicked] sinner [that I am]!’  I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14 (Amplified Bible)

God cannot fill what is already full. Until the pride of self-sufficiency is broken, the Spirit will find no resting place. The poor in spirit are emptied vessels, and only the empty can be filled. - A.W. Tozer

What do I need to empty from my life to be filled with Him?

You are my life and my treasure
The one that I can't live without
Here at your feet my desires and dreams, I lay down
If more of You
Means less of me
Take everything - Brooke Lingertwood

Be Encouraged to empty yourself of me to be filled with Thee.



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