Written by an anonymous Christian

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set aside, and you don't sting or hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy that you have been 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 opinion ridculed, and you refuse to let your anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient and loving silence...that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly extravagance, and spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it...that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any solitude, 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 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 honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God while your own needs go unmet in far more 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, feeling no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart...that is dying to self.

And Jesus said:
"If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it." Matt. 16:24,25