God requires us to be humble. But humility is hard to define and often faked. Humility is primarily in our heads—it is the way we think of ourselves and of others.

The humble person is a thoughtful person. Not an ideological hothead. Not a quick tempered know-it-all. Not a self-assured demagogue. The humble person wants to hear the other person’s point of view even if it is very different and uncomfortable. The humble person assumes she can learn from others. The humble person thinks before talking, prays before emailing, pauses before accusing—all of which reflect an inside attitude of heart.

Humility can be faked, especially in the eyes of those with a superficial relationship. But it cannot be faked to someone who knows us intimately. The truly humble person who has his heart and head in the right place “walks humbly with your God.”