Dying to Self

When you are forgotten or neglected
and you don't hurt with insult,
but your heart is happy,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your advice is disregarded
your opinions ridiculed, and you
refuse to let anger rise in your heart,
and take it all in patient, loving silence,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear disorder,
irregularity, unpunctuality, and annoyance...
and endure it as Jesus endured it,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in
conversation or record your own good works,
or itch for praise after an accomplishment,
when you can truly love to be unknown,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother or sister
prosper and can honestly rejoice with them,
and feel no envy even though your needs
are greater,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food,
any offering, any raiment, any climate,
any society,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can take correction, when you can
humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly,
with no rebellion or resentment rising up
within your heart,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

In Luke 9:23-25
Jesus states: "If anyone wishes to come after Me and be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life for My sake will save it. For
what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his
immortal soul."

"Those Who believe in me, even though they die, will live."
- John 11:25