◄ Surrendered and Dying To Self ►

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer precious Lord
To the Cross where Thou has died,
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer precious Lord
To Thy pierced and wounded side.

Committed Choice

Surrender and dying-to-self speak of similar, but not identical things. Surrender is a choice to live a life dedicated to the Lord – a decision to die to the self-life. Surrender speaks of a committed choice to make the central focus of life the Lord Jesus Christ. Surrender talks of the resolve that Christ becomes all in all, so that He increases and I decrease.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

Complete Surrender

Surrender is a one-time decision, which becomes the ongoing act of dying to self. It is the ongoing, progressive action of dying-to-self in a life that has surrendered to Christ. Surrender becomes more complete as a person increasingly dies to the self-life.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!

Replaced With Christ

Dying to self is a choice and speaks of a particular kind of self-effacing surrender, Scripture suggests that dying-to-self is fundamental in achieving victory in the Christian life. In choosing to die-to-self we renounce the fleshly craving to be in control of our lives, In choosing to die-to-self we willingly abandon our disposition to assert our self-will. Dying-to-self is choosing to take the humble way of the cross. As we die-to-self there is a concurrent dying-of-self, as self is replaced with Christ.

Fully Surrendered

Willingness to die-to-self is part of the process a life fully surrendered to Him. Dying to self can be referred to as the emptying phase of sanctification – and this can only be achieved by God and never by self-effort. And God providentially orchestrates events in a submitted life to bring about death to self.

There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.