Dying To Self

When you are purposely forgotten or neglected and you don't sting with hurt to the insults 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 it 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 can stand face to face with waste , folly ,extravagance,spiritual insensibility and endure it as Jesus endured it - that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering,any clothing, any climate, any solitude, any interrupyion 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 to itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown - 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 yourself.

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 needs are far greater and in desperate circmstances - that is dying to self.

ARE YOU DEAD YET?????