dying to self

This has convicted me today, and maybe it will do the same for you sometime. I needed to be reminded of this, as I began to lose focus and dwell on hurt feelings (dangerously close to a pity party!). I definitely did not die to self this week under some circumstances that tapped in to my worst insecurities. I tend to focus on what I perceive to be the unjustness of it all, and I have to fight the urge to defend myself. Can you relate??
It truly is a privilege to suffer in any way that God sees fit to allow, for His sake. I want to always be able to honestly pray "bring it on, Lord, so that you will be glorified".
I pray this will minister to you, and challenge you to repent of self-focus, as it did for me today:

DYING TO SELF
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult 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 in all in patient, loving silence.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, 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 commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
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 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 and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
Are you dead yet? In these last days, the Spirit would bring us to the cross.
That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Phil. 3:10