Modeh Ani Lefanecha, Melech Chai Vekayam, Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati B’chemla, Rabba Emunatecha.
"I thank You, living and eternal King, for You have graciously restored my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness."
Aramaic:
Abun d’bashmaya, nethqadash shmakh.
Tethe malkuthakh. Nehwe tsebyanakh.
Aykana d’bashmaya af b’arha.
Hab lan lahma d’sunqanan yaomana.
Washbuq lan hawbayn aykana d’af hnan shbqan l’hayabayn.
Wela ta’alan l’nesyuna, ela pasan min bisha.
Metul dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta, l’alam almin. Amen.
English:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
"Abun d’bashmaya, nethqadash shmakh.
Tethe malkuthakh. Nehwe tsebyanakh.
Aykana d’bashmaya af b’arha.
Hab lan lahma d’sunqanan yaomana.
Washbuq lan hawbayn aykana d’af hnan shbqan l’hayabayn.
Wela ta’alan l’nesyuna, ela pasan min bisha.
Metul dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta, l’alam almin. Amen."
"Lord, today I humble myself before You. Help me to walk in the strength of Your wisdom, not my own. Strip away my pride and replace it with a heart that serves. Teach me to embrace the hidden strength of humility, so that I may reflect Your love to the world. Amen."
The world sees strength as dominance, control, and authority. We are taught to climb the highest, to outshine our peers, and to assert ourselves. But true strength lies in humility—in lowering ourselves to lift others, in listening rather than speaking, in yielding rather than demanding.
Imagine a river flowing through the valley. It does not stand tall like the mountains, nor does it boast of its own greatness. Yet, in its humility, it carves through stone, nourishes the land, and brings life wherever it flows. So it is with humility: it may seem weak in the eyes of the world, but it is God’s path to greatness.
Christ Himself, though He was the Son of God, humbled Himself to serve, to wash the feet of His disciples, to bear the cross. The strongest One of all became the lowest for our sake. What does this teach us about true strength?
No man seemed greater than Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. His kingdom stretched wide, his name was feared, and his power was unmatched. But God does not measure greatness as men do. Pride took root in Nebuchadnezzar’s heart until one day, he gazed upon his kingdom and declared, "Is this not the great Babylon I have built as my royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30).
That very moment, God humbled him. For seven years, he lived like a wild beast, driven to madness, his mind stripped from him. Only when he lifted his eyes to Heaven and acknowledged that the Most High rules the kingdom of men (Daniel 4:34) did God restore him. Nebuchadnezzar, once a proud king, now humbled, declared: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble" (Daniel 4:37).
A prince, adorned in silk and gold, was sent by his father to govern a distant village. He entered in splendor, expecting honor. But the people, seeing his wealth, resented him. They would not listen to him. They would not follow him.
The prince, confused, left his robes behind and dressed as a beggar. He worked beside the laborers, ate among the poor, and learned the burdens of the weak. Over time, they trusted him. They listened. They followed. Only when he revealed that he was the prince did they realize: he was never stronger than when he was lowly.
"Whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all" (Mark 10:44).
A man built a tower of dust, grain upon grain, stacking higher and higher until it touched the sky. He marveled at his creation, but the wind came, and in a moment, it was gone. Another man knelt in the dirt, planting seeds. He watered them, tended them. In time, a great garden grew, feeding many.
The tower-builder scoffed. "I built higher than you." But the gardener smiled. "And yet, my work remains."
"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).
"Father, You have called me to walk humbly before You. Help me to resist the pull of pride and embrace the strength of servanthood. Let me follow the example of Jesus, who humbled Himself for my sake. May I find my greatest strength in surrender, and my highest calling in service. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
In what areas of your life is God calling you to practice humility, and how can you step into that calling today?
May this devotional inspire you to embrace the hidden strength of humility, walking in the footsteps of Christ, who lowered Himself so that we might be raised to life.
