Philippians 2:3-5
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

I was first introduced to Francis Schaeffer in college. We had to read True Spirituality and if you've ever taken a study I was teaching at Mars, I've probably quoted it at some point. Along with the quote I would have told you that it "kicked my spiritual booty." Certain theologians who are also artful writers, such as Schaeffer, have a way of just cutting into my very mind and heart.

Anyway, Schaeffer asserts that all sin - from a child stealing an extra cookie from the counter, to murder, to disobeying God's call, to adultery, to lying, all has the same root. Vanity.

Being self-centered allows you a lot of leeway. Just go through that list of sins I gave:

• Stealing a cookie = What I think I want is a better opinion that what Mommy thinks is best
• Murder = I am able to make a decision to end someone else's life
• Disobeying God's call = I can come up with a better plan for me than God can
• Adultery = I am above God's rules on fidelity, My desire is more important than my spouse
• Lying = I am better than you, and can choose whether or not you know the truth

Fasting is incredibly humbling. But it's amazing how even in the middle of an intense spiritual discipline, our pride level can creep up as we start to feel very proud of what we're doing. I've found one of the greatest ways to combat this is to begin to pray for others. Think of others' needs as higher than your own. Take up their cross and carry it for awhile. Pray along with them.

And one more way to help yourself be humble - ask for prayer. Remember there is a community alongside you who is spending a lot of extra time with God. Share your needs with a friend, share your struggle with a friend, and then share your faith with a friend.