Dear Lord Jesus,

Help me understand the beauty in the death of my natural selfish nature, I come to be alive even in this world. Help me to be very vigilant to deny myself and carry your cross, follow you step by step. I understand and declare herby – “not by might, not by power, but by Your Spirit I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me”. Amen.

Dying to self is like a seed planted but it comes back to life again.God provides much more than we can imagine.We find genuine life by depending on God. Likewise, Jesus taught in John 12:24, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (NASB).  

The principle of life through death is seen in the plant world but while dying it produces many others and yields a rich harvest. Part of the life that we find and the fruit we bear is not only living a richer life with God but also becoming more generous to others, reaching out to them with pure  love and joy.

The concept of “dying to self” is found throughout the New Testament. It expresses the true essence of the Christian life. Jesus spoke repeatedly to His disciples about taking up their cross (an instrument of death) and following Him. He made it clear that if any would follow Him, they must deny themselves,symbolising the necessity of total commitment even unto death,which means giving up their lives—spiritually, symbolically, and even physically, if necessary. 

Matthew 16:24 shows The picture of a man already condemned, required to carry the beam of his own cross to the place of execution. Cross bearing is a willingness to suffer and die for the Lord’s sake implying that his own death would be by crucifixion.

 We cannot give anything in exchange. Whoever is keen on saving this temporal life- his comfort and security here shall lose it by losing the eternal life but whoever loses  his life’s comfort and security here will find everlasting life.  But dying to oneself isn’t bleak and terrible. 

Jesus continued:  “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” as in Matthew 16:25 (NASB)