Living Our Faith

01/29/24 – 02/06/24

The Day I Died to Self

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  02/05/24

George Müller, an esteemed evangelist and prayer warrior of the nineteenth century, was once asked, “What is the secret of your victorious life?”

His answer was simple. “It was the day I died, utterly died.”

As he spoke, Müller bent down until he reached the floor and then continued: “. . . Died to George Müller—his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will. Died to the world—its approval or censure. Died to approval or blame—even of my brethren and friends. Since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”

Until you learn to die to self, you will live your Christian life in defeat. Until you learn to die to sin, you will live in bondage. Until you learn to die to pride, you will live in slavery and servitude.

If any believer feels defeated, it is because he has bought into the lie of believing that Satan has invincible power over him. As a child of God, you do not need to be in bondage. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

When James says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” it does not mean that you are standing in the battle arena and being beaten. Rather, it is a picture of a general who has defeated his enemy and calls out to his officers to clean house.

Your commanding general rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is at the Father’s right hand “with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3:22).

When you are joined with Christ, you have the same authority. You can break out of bondage. You can give up a sinful habit. You can be freed from any addiction—by the power of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the freedom that comes when I die to myself and live only for You. When Satan attacks me with lies, help me to dwell on Your Truth, that I might walk more fully in the victory You have given me in Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).