Dying to Self: something I challenged my girls to do each week this summer. Something I challenged myself to do at least once a day this whole summer. Not that I did it perfectly by any means, or even understand it perfectly, but since I have gotten back to school, I seem to have forgotten this challenge, this call for my life - to die to self, that I might live for Christ. Why is that? I suppose part of it is that it happens naturally. I go to school and take my classes, and get grades for myself, so I can get a job, to make money for myself, so I can have a good life. It becomes all about me. But how do I live this day, living for Christ, and sacrificing my own wants and desires for those that honor and please God? It is such a paradox to me - that to die to myself would bring a more satisfactory, fulfilling life. But this is what Scripture promises us.
The following paragraph was given to us by the WVA faculty and directors in our 'playbook'. I came back to it the other day and am now posting it - that this reminder of dying to self might not be just a reminder, but might become a way of life.
"When you're forgotten or neglected or purposely set to naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the insult to the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy for Christ, that is dying to self.
When your good is evil spoke of, and your wishes are crossed, and your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence, this is dying to self.
When you're contented with any food, offering, clothing, climate, society, any solitude, any interruptions by the will of God, that is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works or itch for commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown, that is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit, and feel no envy nor question God when your needs are far greater or in desperate circumstances, that is dying to self.
When you receive correction or reproof from one of less stature that yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly, as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, that is dying to self.
Are you dead yet? In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the cross, that I may know Him, being made comfortable in His death.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live in the body I live with faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me" (Gal. 2:20)."
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