Every day is an opportunity to surrender to self. That is so simple, but so hard for me to grasp. I see everything through the filter of how I'm feeling, rather than what God wants me to do. I look at the things, people, and circumstances around me instead of what is to come in eternity.
So I'm trying to look for opportunities to let go, to put others first, to die to self. Living in a fallen world provides plenty of chances for that. But all too often I just try to get through the day without making too much trouble for anyone, but also without being open to what God wants to accomplish in and through me. It's so much easier to avoid conflict than to dig down and fix what is causing the problem. Dying to self is humbling, but it's part of the process of sanctification.
And I want to learn this lesson well. I long to be more like Jesus. By keeping my eyes on the eternal things, the little things I "give up" here become less and less important. Lord, break me of whatever is displeasing to You! Show me how to die to myself.
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3 (Read passage)
