God clearly states that he is drawn to the humble. He's also clear that He opposes the proud. These two, humility and pride, cannot coexist. Where one is fostered, the other is defeated.

Which will you pursue? C.J. Mahaney paints a striking picture of the daily battle quietly raging within every Christian and asks whether you will passively accommodate the enemy of your soul, pride, or actively cultivate your best friend, humility. When you acknowledge the deception of pride and intentionally humble yourself, you become free to savor abundant mercies and unlikely graces. You will find a new life is yours - a life God richly favors. A God-glorifying life you don't want to miss.

Be Transformed by Christ’s Example

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." —1 Peter 5:5

A battle rages within every one of us every day. It’s the clash between our sense of stubborn self-sufficiency and God’s call to recognize that we’re really nothing without Him. It’s pride versus humility. And it’s a fight we can’t win without looking repeatedly to Christ and the cross. C. J. Mahaney raises a battle cry to daily, diligently, and deliberately weaken our greatest enemy (pride) and cultivate our greatest friend (humility). His thorough examination clarifies misconceptions, revealing the truth about why God detests pride and turns His active attention to the humble. Because pride is never passive, defeating it demands an intentional attack. The blessing that follows is God’s abundant favor.

"This is the one to whom I will look:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit."

—Isaiah 66:2, esv

God clearly states that He is drawn to the humble. He’s also clear that He opposes the proud. These two, humility and pride, cannot coexist. Where one is fostered, the other is defeated.

Which will you pursue?

C. J. Mahaney paints a striking picture of the daily battle quietly raging within every Christian and asks whether you will passively accommodate the enemy of your soul, pride, or actively cultivate your best friend, humility. When you acknowledge the deception of pride and intentionally humble yourself, you become free to savor abundant mercies and unlikely graces. You will find a new life is yours—a life God richly favors. A God-glorifying life you don’t want to miss.

"C. J. Mahaney is not humble. At least, that’s what he’ll tell you. And that’s one reason he’s so well qualified to write this book."

Mark E. Dever

Senior pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church

Author, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

"A much-needed wake-up call on this important subject. I highly recommend this book."

Jerry Bridges

Author of The Pursuit of Holiness

"This is the right book from the right man at the right time."

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Story Behind the Book

"Given pride’s pervasive presence in my life, I come to this book in holy fear, yet inspired by God’s promises to be humble and sobered by his warnings to the proud (Isaiah 66:2b, 1 Peter 5:5b). Scripture reveals to us that, while pride was the first and most serious sin, God is decisively drawn to humility and is specifically supportive of the humble. Only Christ has fully obeyed Isaiah 66:2b ("This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"), yet He did so as our representative! How marvelous that in our daily battle against pride we can rely on God’s grace, through the gospel, and thus bring honor and glory to God." —C. J. Mahaney

C. J. Mahaney leads Sovereign Grace Ministries in its mission to establish and support local churches. He served as pastor of Covenant Life Church in a Maryland suburb of Washington , D.C. , for twenty-seven years and is author of The Cross- Centered Life, Christ Our Mediator, and Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know. C. J. and his wife, Carolyn, have three married daughters and one son. They make their home in Gaithersburg , Maryland .

C.J. Mahaney’s latest book, Humility: True Greatness, is an amazing challenge to believers to think seriously about how much weight God has placed on humility. The challenge of this book springboards from Isaiah 66:2, “This is the one whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” As the title hints at, Mahaney has put together a concise and practical book that calls us to seek humility, which is how God defines true greatness.

The author has a clear, yet personable writing style and Humility is a prime example. He tackles such topics as defining biblical humility (“Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.” p. 22) and pride (“Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him.” p. 31).

Mahaney also does a wonderful job giving practical encouragements of how to foster humility in our daily lives: through prayer, acting in grace toward others, and opening oneself up for correction. There is even a checklist summary of practical things we can do to strive after humility at the end of the book.

Of course, a lot more could have been written, but an exhaustive manifesto on humility does not seem to be Mahaney’s ambition. Rather, this excellent book is a crisp, if not humble, approach to a hugely important topic in the life of a Christ-follower.

All in all, Mahaney has hit another home run. I can’t imagine any believer not being challenge by this convicting and gracious book. He has such an accessible style that many readers will be able to devour Humility in one sitting. I would recommend that you go at a slower pace and let these powerful challenges transform your life. In fact, I’ve already bought several copies that I have been doling out to my coworkers. Thanks C.J. – please keep books like this coming! – Todd Burgett, Christian Book Previews.com

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Colene Vonberg (Unadilla, NY), June 01, 2009

This is a challenging, refreshing book which offers practical suggestions for fighting pride in our daily lives. I am reading it for the second time, and finding I am more aware of pride's presence in attitudes and actions in my life then I was before reading and thinking about pride and humility. I think this book offers an important key for bringing the truths of Christ into deeper levels of one's life.

Reviewed by Mandy (Binghamton, NY), May 11, 2009

I learned so much from this book I am having a hard time putting it all into one or two review paragraphs. This book does a wonderful job of taking you from an intellectual understanding of humility to the practical application of how you can daily grow in humility. C.J. Mahaney walks you through The Battle of Humility Versus Pride, Our Savior and the Secret of True Greatness, and lastly The Practice of True Humility. There was so much in this book that leaped off the pages at me! One of the main points for my life was probably the need for staying charged and how we can just have our devotions once a day and expect them to "last" as if it's some sort of time lapse capsule. We need - I need - to be renewing my mind with my Savior through out the day through prayer, reading His Word, meditating on His Word, and worship. I highly recommend this book and would like to suggest you read it along with another book by this author, The Cross Centered Life Keeping the Gospel The Main Thing

Reviewed by David R. Bess (Charleston, West Virginia), April 20, 2009

Arrogance is something with which all Christians struggle, especially leaders. This book offers valuable insights for that struggle. Part 1 describes the ongoing battle between humility and pride. Part 2 redefines greatness in the person of Jesus Christ. Part 3 offers practical tips as to how to pursue humility each day of our lives. This book has been a wonderful read for me, especially with my personality type which is particularly prone to arrogance. I recommend this title highly to all Christian leaders to help keep their God and their own egos in the proper perspectives.

Reviewed by James Kaufmann (Coaldale, Ab,), April 07, 2009

If Christians in North America truly took the way of humility presented in this book to heart,so many of today's issues and problems would be gone.This is a life changing guide that will bring you to true greatness in Christ. C.J. is a humble servant.

Reviewed by Melissa Young (Greenville, SC), January 21, 2009

This book has excellent application of biblical truth for my life. The words hurt where they should and heal as only God's grace can, as C.J. makes clear teachings on humility. The book I loaned has had an effect and has been passed to another. I doubt I will see it again, which is great and I am ordering my second book.

Reviewed by Wanda Wiedman (Northridge, CA), February 22, 2008

An outstanding explanation of true greatness! CJ Mahaney incorporates humor to an area where so few practice this trait. It is great as a devotional or as a one on one discipleship aid. It will forever change your view of self and it will encourage you to practice what came naturally to Jesus Christ.

Reviewed by Carla Cox (St. Albans, NY), December 03, 2007

I have read this book many times over. Everyone should have a copy along with Andrew Murray's book on humility. Excellent reading for your own personal devotion and deliverance.

Reviewed by Wyatt Nichols (Woodstock, GA), August 07, 2007

A must read for anyone that wants to 'put on the new man'(Ehp 4:24). Humility is lost in our culture today and this book can help you find it.

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