Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself…" —Matthew 16:24
“The characteristics of individuality are independence and
self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by
continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is
because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe.
But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of
God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where
a choice must be made. The choice is
either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell
of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy
Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is
your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew
5:24). God wants to bring you into union
with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He
cannot. “…let him deny himself…”— deny his independent right to himself.
Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.” CHAMBERS
Making your own way.
Defining your own form of righteousness.
Refusing to change when the Spirit has convicted you of the need to
change. Failing to change because you
have tried many times through determination and self-effort and although there
was some limited change, it didn’t last.
If you want to follow Jesus, you can’t do it on your own, in your own
way. Following Jesus requires you to put
all of your trust in Him and none in yourself.
That takes faith. So what are
your waiting for? ELGIN
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
Charley Elgin
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