Follow Jesus requires death to self. We live in a world of “I”, yes we are number one in our eyes from the I-phone, to Facebook, to nationalism, and politics. Promotional of self is in our DNA and it’s hard to make it in a world the doesn’t respond to humility. The problem, not one of us likes to die. I do not like to die to self and neither do you. Yet Jesus requires this death to self if we are to follow Him (Matt. 16:24-25). “ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves…,” (Chronicles 7:14). The call for humility before God is both personal and corporate. It begins with ourselves within the realm of a believer’s personal walk with Christ. When we make God first and foremost in our lives, it will overflow collectively to our community, transforming it into the likeness of Christ, a community that is filled with love for one another. We need to make room for Christ, death to self allows Christ to live through us, causing spiritual growth and a fruit bearing life.
Here is a collection of Bible verses about dying and growing in Christ, may they inspire you as you battle the flesh, and cling to the power of Holy Spirit. Read and claim the promises as your own in prayer. I have written my own prayers as the scriptures spoke to me, we encourage to write your own in a journal.
Prayer example: God I want to bear fruit! Help me die, that a new life might grow, a life filled with your Spirit. Help me hate the things of this world, those things which keep me from having a relationship with you. God today you can have all of me, I belong to you now, I surrender my old life to you.
John 12:24-25~Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”—“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
Pray example: Lord Jesus I want to follow you, take any selfishness I’m clinging to. May you help me to pick up my cross and fill me the desire, the power to follow you in the path of Love. I surrender my whole life to the power of the Gospel, I will love the Lord my God with all my heart and soul.
Mark 8:34-37 ~Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he [Jesus] said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
Ask in prayer:
Father show areas in myself that need to die.
That the church will lay aside its pride and humble itself before God.
Seek God’s direction in your life, before making decisions of impact. Ask, “Lord what is Thy Will?”
Help you to stand for God even when the crowd is going the other way. Help you not to fall to peer pressure. Help you to care more about what You think about you then what other people think about you.
Help you to care about others more than your own well-being and comfort.
Help you Live counter-culture life.