Dying to Self

The concept of "dying to self" seems ominous, but it’s actually life-giving. God calls us to do this for our good and for his glory. The greatest example of this is Jesus himself. It baffles me that the Creator of the universe humbled himself and put his interest aside to meet the needs of others (Philippians 2:1–10). 

And just like a seed must die for a plant to live, Christ calls us to die and find new life in him.

Lord, thank you for your patience when I fail at this. And thank you for your grace, which lovingly transforms me to be more like you through the power of your Spirit. 

May we all strive to be the kind of person Scripture empowers us to be in him:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Galatians 2:20

I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 

1 Corinthians 15:31

Here is one of the best explanations I've read about this concept. It comes from an anonymous source:

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you sting and hurt with the insult of 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, 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 raiment, any climate, any society, any attitude, any interruption 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 itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown—that is dying to self. When you 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 own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances—that is dying to self. When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart—that is dying to self.