Thursday, February 07, 2008

Dying to Self

Agony in the Garden
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 in 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 you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God.

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 commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.

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

Source: here

6 comments:

Tracy said...

Esther, this really, really spoke to me... thank you for such a good post... I needed this!

Samantha from Colonial Curve Cottage said...

That is my lenten journey...Praise God, that blessed my heart.

Mary B said...

If only I could keep it up! I'm not bad the week they come down with the flu but when I think they should be better I lose it!

Lisa said...

Wow. I've never seen it explained this well, what "dying to oneself" means. This is a high and difficult aspiration. Only with God's help! Thanks for posting this.

Marie said...

I was in so much pain yesterday, then I came and read this and it SO lifted my spirits.

These wonderful reflections THANKYOU Esther.

With love,

Marie xoxoxo

EC Gefroh said...

I posted it as a reminder to myself not to be so selfish or self-centered. But I am so glad it touched you all too.
God bless,