Dying to Self

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24

“And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'” Luke 9:23

I was asked by a young man working with me, how do I die to self and what does this signify? I thought for a moment, then I prayed – Lord in my own life, I do know the answer, help me to bring forth your Word and understanding. My flesh with its passions and desires must die.

I looked up the word crucify in the American Heritage dictionary: “To put to death by nailing or binding to a cross.” I also looked at the word deny: “To decline to grant; to restrain oneself especially from indulgence in pleasures.”

After I read the definition I examined my own heart. I thought about what I felt I deserved, the feelings that bring me pleasure and my own desires, which I think I need to satisfy me. I thought about everything that I want and I should have at this moment. Then I reflected back to the question, how do I die to self? I had to surrender all of my demands and compulsions to my Father. To help me apply this, even for myself, I needed to use an illustration. I thought of a big empty wooden box. I had to put all of my passions, desires, and my will in it and nail that wooden box shut. As I nailed the wooden box I became sorrowful in the process of grieving it, to produce the realization of death to self. Having the necessity to relinquish all to Christ and trusting him.

“Truly, truly, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. “He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” John 12: 24-25

I choose to pick up my cross daily and follow Christ. Christ shows the true value of life. The Lord’s loving-kindness is amazing beyond anything I can think of. “Because Thy loving-kindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.” Psalm 63: 3-5

To do the will of my Father gives me the greatest joy and pleasures to have the fullness of life in Christ, also to die well. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Now the Lord has blessed me with this illustration to go and talk to that young man. Glory to God!

 

Written by Sandra Valdes: Sandra serves full time in Guest Services at America’s Keswick. She has two daughters and one granddaughter. They fill her heart with joy. All Glory to God!


Think About This: “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.” – A.W. Tozer

The Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 20-23| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [g]stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:23-24

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

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