Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting from the insult, but are happy at 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, and your opinions ridiculed, yet you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but you take it all in patient, loving silence...that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, irregularity, annoyance; and you endure waste, folly, extravagance, and spiritual insensibility, as Jesus did...that is dying to self.

When you are content with any circumstance, food, offering, clothing, climate, society, solicitude, and interruption by the will of God...that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, record your own good works, seek after commendation from others, and are content with being unknown...that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and you can honestly rejoice with him in spirit without feeling envy or question God, even though you have greater needs or more 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 without rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart...that is dying to self.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16:24