To be poor in spirit, to realize that I have nothing, am nothing and can do nothing, and have need of all things. It is to be painfully aware of my separation from and need for God.

Poverty of spirit is a consciousness of my emptiness and the result of the Holy Spirit’s work within. It comes from the realization that I am lost because of sin, and sitting in the dust before God. Poverty of spirit could be called the negative side of faith, since it is an acknowledgement of my utter worthlessness which precedes emptying the heart of self so Christ can fill it. It is the foundational trait found in every regenerated soul. The one who is poor in spirit is nothing in his/her own eyes and feels that one’s proper place is at the feet of Jesus.

Excerpts from Learning to Live with Eternity’s Values in View Curriculum