Growing Deeper
As we look openly at our Christian lives, how much of "self” is in each of our hearts? So often it is “self” who tries to live the Christian life, and fails. It is “self” who gets irritable, envious, resentful, critical, and worried. It is “self” who is hard and unyielding in its attitude toward others; “self” who is shy, self-conscious and reserved. “Self” who prioritizes and idolizes above God and His teachings.
This is why we need to be broken; “self” is a wall between us and a deeper walk with Jesus. God longs to fill us with the complete opposite of a hard, unbroken spirit, but to do so, “self” must be crucified. To be broken is our work and God’s. He brings situations for us to bear, but we have to make a choice. If we are surrendered completely then we will be open to conviction and keep on seeking His corrections. He will show us the proud, hard self that causes Him, ourselves, and others around us great pain. We can turn away and refuse to repent or bow our heads and say, “Yes, Lord, I am guilty. Renew in me a humble spirit.”
Let us pray together for the victory in our lives to surrender all and grow closer, and closer to Him. Let us be as He who was innocent yet surrendered His life on the cross for us who are guilty. Yes, let us not hold back and have absolute surrender to God. I pray this for my own family and the world. Amen!
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Luke 9:23
And He said to them all, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
Matthew 16:24-25
24-Then said Jesus unto His disciples, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25-For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Romans 6:13
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
2 Corinthians 5:15
And He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.