His Abiding Love
• Oct. 13, 2007 - Dying to Live
We should be dying. We should all 'die' to live. What do I mean? Well, we need to die to self. Only by dying to ourselves can we truly live as we should. Most people look at all that 'dying to self stuff' and think "Oh great. Yeah yeah, die to self. Whatever. That's a great sentiment but no one really does it" or "Well that just means to put others first. I do that. No really I do. Except I really have to take care of myself, or I can't take care of others, right? So I need to take this 'alone time' for myself. " or they think it's just some far off concept that no one really knows what it is.
Dying to self means you always without fail put God first. That's all it means.
Now practically what does that mean? Well it would include submitting to your dh. It would include putting aside your own desires and putting others first at all times. Yes all times. That's hard to hear isn't it? I know it was for me. I've really been struggling lately. I've been in a 'valley' for some time now, in a desert area in my spiritual life. I could not hear the Lord, I could not seem to 'feel ' God's presence, etc. :( It's been very hard, and I will admit, to my shame, that I have been doubting my whole experience with the Lord, and that I've even back slidden some and done some things I knew to be sinful. Satan has truly attacked me over the last 4 months and I am only now beginning to repent and pull out of it :(
A few days ago, I was on my knees in tears, pleading with the Lord to show me his presence, to allow me to hear His voice, to feel his spirit, etc. I had given up and stood up to go and I heard once again that still small voice (referenced in a previous blog further down). The Lord said quietly "die." I brushed it off, and began to walk out. A louder voice resounded 'DIE. Die to yourself." I went back in and sat down on the bed. I asked "What do you mean?" The Lord said "You're asking me to tell you what you must do to fix things. You're asking me how to make your children obedient and respectful. You're asking me for help with *censored to protect our family's privacy* :) with your marriage and with your dh. You want to know why your housekeeping doesn't go well, why your schooling isn't working, why the children are acting terrible, why your spiritual life is in the desert. It's b/c you won't die to self. DIE TO SELF. Put everyone else's needs ahead of your own and just die." I sat there kind of stunned. I mean I knew I had to die to self as a Christian. We all know that. So I then asked "how? I don't know how to do that Lord!" He again said "Die. Simply die to self. Put me first at all times. Put me first, others next and yourself last. That J>O>Y acrostic is right. Jesus first, others second yourself last. Do it literally all the time. It will change everything, daughter. everything." Whoa. I did know this. I really did. I just couldn't exactly figure out how to do it. I didn't know how to put it into practice. But this laid it out clear for me.
It seems so simple to think of. Just put God first, and others second and yourself last. But it's not so easy to do. :( But thank GOD we have Him to help us, to carry our load for us, to bear our burdens, to make our yoke easy and light. Praise GOD for that. It is impossible as a human to do this, but we can do 'all things' through Christ. Praise GOD!!!!
As I sat there and thought about it, I realized, I had to die. Die to live. So that is where I got the title to this post: Dying to live. We all need to die. Only through dying can we truly live the wonderful life the Lord truly wants us to. He doesn't want us to be unhappy or miserable here on earth. A true Christian shouldn't be walking around miserable, they should always have the Joy of the Lord!!! So die. Die so you can live. It truly will revolutionize you!! It will change you so much when you take the focus totally and completely off yourself and put everyone else's needs ahead of your own, in fact stop worrying about your so called 'needs' altogether. The Lord will give you what you 'need' and even what you want in His time if it is His will. Trust Him to supply your needs at all times, He is faithful!
I read this on the back of a magazine and it fits this discussion:
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 it 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 stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility,
and endure it as Jesus endured it
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 commendation,
when you can truly love to be unknown,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you are content with any food,
any offering,
any raiment,
any climate,
any society,
any solitude,
any interruption by the will of God
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
Christ's love to all,
Samantha
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• Oct. 16, 2007 - thank you