What is your biggest obstacle to being totally surrendered to God? To be honest, most of us really don’t even
comprehend complete surrender. ‘Laying it all down’ in submission to His will is the ultimate act of humility and most
of us really don’t get it.
Jesus described the “dying to self” process (“denying self”) as part of following Him — “If
anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt 16:24)
Denying ourselves is a concept that is pretty foreign in today’s culture. Everything we read and watch is about
indulging ourselves, pampering ourselves and obtaining things to entertain us and aid in our comfort. There’s even a
popular magazine named “Self.” Who can even define humility? It’s so easy to say that we need nothing but Him
when we have every luxury at our fingertips. Sitting in our Bible classes, we quote the verses easily. But who is
living it out? The most difficult prayer for us to voice is, “Not my will, but Thine be done” and sincerely mean it.
Time is growing short and the Lord is pressing us toward His purposes. There is no more time for lounging around
enjoying “Self” magazine and quickly reading a short Bible verse on the way to work or play. The line is being drawn
in the sand. Either we humble ourselves and stop procrastinating our walk into the deeper things of God or He will
take our calling and assign it to someone who will take action for the Kingdom. He is serious at this time about our
obedience. The world is not our god. We have been called, chosen, and set apart to achieve His purposes. It’s simply
not about us. We must take these verses seriously now. There is a lost and dying world all around us drowning in
deception. We must die to ourselves and learn what it is to really live.
George Muller, known for his great faith and ministry to orphans in 19th century England, was asked the secret of his
fruitful service for the Lord. He said, “There was a day when I died… utterly died.” As he spoke, he bent lower and
lower until he almost touched the floor. “I died to George Muller — his opinions, his preferences, his tastes, and his
will — died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends — and since then I have studied only to show
myself approved unto God.” And God did amazing things through his ministry.
DYING TO SELF
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the
oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed,
and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you
stand faceto face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibilityand endure it as Jesus endured.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption
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 after
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, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than 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.
Author Unknown
“That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to
take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.