"Jesus Washing Peter's Feet", 1852-1856, Madox Brown
Friends, we have got to start with the hardest part, and nothing is harder than choosing to lose yourself.
"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:25
We cannot even begin to reclaim our lives until we are willing to admit that we cling so tightly, so often, to our own wants, "needs," desires, etc. Our sinful, selfish nature drives this "me" force (along with popular culture), but we must reject it.
You know, I tend to get angry with my kiddos when they interrupt me on the computer. They are blocking my goal of "me time." I also get irritated with my husband if he tries to talk to me while I'm "busy." Oh, and God, yea, He tries to interfere as well. I mean honestly, give up an extra hour of sleep in the morning to spend time with and get fueled by Him for the day? The nerve.
See a theme? It's called self, and it's a yucky thing.
Just today my sister-in-law gently reminded me that the things we do aren't about us. We don't "do" to "get." We are servants. We don't deserve anything (well, there is that place called Hell...). We are to live and breathe and operate for His glory. We are His! We've been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We have got to get over ourselves and get on with Jesus!
Are you with me?
If so, come back tomorrow as we tackle taking our priorities from "in theory" to reality.
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21 comments:
wow - were you reading MY blog??! Not that I could ever boast that I inspired anyone to write - but this is what I've been TRYING to convey in my own blog - but can't find the words for!! Being a servant, giving up self, realizing life and ministry isn't about ME...I linked to this post so anyone who reads my blog will NOT read my blog entry -but YOURS :) Thank you for sharing this!! I'm with you.
I am ready to lose some things in my life so that I may find HIM!!!
Looking soooo forward to doing this with you.
Have a blessed week!
AMEN! We all feel like that about some things... may we all lose our selves and find our selves in him.
blessings~
Jacque
http://jacquedixon.com
http://gleaningtheharvest.com
Sheesh...nothing like making it painful girlie! Thanks! I'm glad you're doing this...
This is so true Sarah Mae, and sadly, there are Christians out there who truly don't believe we are called to be servants. I can't imagine NOT wanting to do something [or everything] for my Jesus after what He did for me.
He must become greater; I must become less. - John 3:30
A friend of mine has this as her Facebook status and I thought it really fit in with reclaiming our life by losing it.
God is so Good!
we all can use those reminders! thank you for always having the words that I need to hear!
So, so true...I especially have to remind myself of this constantly when I'm exhausted from my pregnancy, and feel irritable. It's easy to snap at my family for "bothering" me when I'm trying to rest, when I ought to be sent to time out for my selfishness!
Wow Sarah MAE! This is so good. And I would have to say "ouch". My son says "oh mom you're blogging I can't talk right now." Thanks for this allowing us this reminder
"let my flesh and self entitlement DIE so that you, Jesus
Can & will b glorified!"
Look forward to the rest of the posts! Thanks!
Wow, great post and will be back tomorrow for sure.
Can´t wait!!!
I'm in!
See ya manana. :~}
Our pastor used this passage in his sermon on Sunday, and I thought of you. "7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
how have you been reading my mind? i'm so there tomorrow...let's do this, let's get lost!
Amen!I really need this. Today as I was busy deep cleaning the kids' room I was so stressed out, with the kids running around me, asking for this and for that. I was kid of thinking :Hey you guys, don't you see that I'm doing this for you? Can you please co-operate ans stop interruoting?" What a nasty attitude!I'm in. I need to lose myself too.
OUCH! That is all I can say. Sigh.
Self, flesh ... God help me.
But Sarah, it's hard! :)
I tend to think just as you described about being interrupted, except about spending time with God, I get irritated when that time is interrupted because I know that that time will get me thru the remainder of the day.
I am sooooo working on being, "dead to self" instead of 'Slowly Dying 2 Self.'
smooches,
Larie
Service has been a theme in our house recently. But I've been amazed at how much "me" I've allowed to creep into my thinking. And how freeing it is when I let go of "me" and serve my family for the joy of it. As a gift and a sacrifice of love.
Last night it was just me and the little one, and I was ready to cry to tape him to a wall or all of the above. I immediately thought of you and what you're doing here, and felt convicted that I need to join you. I locked myself in my room for a mommy time out and prayed to my Jesus for patience. :)
Taking priorities from theory to reality - now that sounds like a good idea.
Ugh. This is the hardest part. Coming face to face with my yucky self. Double ugh.
I am totally with you on the self thing - I really need a lot of work in this area!
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