Dying to Self

The author of the following quote is unknown, but has been one of my favorites over the years. I am always convicted whenever I read it. Whenever I ask the Lord to make me more like Him, I can always count on some of the things listed below to happen to me to teach me what it's like to die to self. Dying to self is a painful process, but the purpose of being a Christian is to grow in holiness, which is Christ-like-ness.

“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself…”
Matthew 16:24

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 wished are crossed, 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,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, and unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility…enduring it as Christ Jesus endured it,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you no longer care to hear yourself in conversation, or to record your own works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you 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 circumstance,
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.