Have You Died To Self Lately?
- Nancy Williams
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Have you ever been on a team where one person wasn't carrying their weight? How did you feel? Spoiler alert...I was that person; read on!
Recently, I was looking to volunteer somewhere and wanted to find out the expectations for some of the various teams that were looking for helpers.
I found out that one of the teams that needed the most support started at 7:30 AM. YIKES! Since I get up early for work every morning, this was not good news to me! And I'm not a morning person!
I thought, "Did I want to do that on the weekend, too, though I'd like to help out?" Just to let you know, on weekdays, I like to get up, grab a cup of coffee, read my bible, work on my bible memorization, and then read another personal development book. By the end of this time, I'm ready to begin my day and have either finished or started my second
cup of coffee. Saturdays, I sleep in until I wake up and am out of the house to work out by 9:30 AM. Did I want to get up early on Sunday now, too? What about me? What about my rest?
So, I negotiated. I wanted to help the team, but only if it was convenient for me and I could still sleep in (at least a little) on Sunday. I said I was able to help out quite a while after everyone else arrived, but I would stay later.
Being on teams before and carrying the torch for a team, I knew that what I was doing was not unifying, not meeting the team's expectations, but was what I wanted (anyone picking up the word selfish yet?). Now, doing what's good for oneself is not a bad thing, and we do want to be careful not to extend ourselves and be where God is not planting us.
The question before me was, am I willing to die to myself and commit, be "all in?" What if I had joined a sports team but only operated in what I wanted to do? How crazy would that be, and how successful would that team be? Here I was, doing just that. Needless to say, after my first time volunteering, I realized the scope of the work, which was daunting, and MANY more helpers are needed. Of course, God's Holy Spirit was also quietly at work in me (yes, I heard Him), asking me, "What are you doing?" How could I treat my team members this way? It's really about them, not me.
By the end of the following week, I submitted myself to the Holy Spirit's promptings to start with the team at 7:30 AM. I could not stand by and not support the team, doing only this or that. If I joined the team, I would show up with them. I am then, "all in" and teamwork can flourish. As John C. Maxwell says, "Teamwork makes the dream work!"
Today, this decision feels good. I was resisting, but I let that resistance go and made a decision that was, and is, correct. To be unified and part of the team, showing up when they show up.
Resistance is very important to recognize. When I felt it, I knew it was a place where God wanted to work on me, and work on me He did!
What about you? Are you feeling any resistance in your life right now? What do you think God might be trying to tell or show you? Have you died to yourself and any resistance lately? If so, please contact me and share your story. I'd love to read it and respond.
In the meantime, let's all have the intention to acknowledge resistance and entrust it to God for understanding and direction, while allowing it to pass, or letting it go.
Blessings to you,
Nancy
To continue your journey, click https://www.awayoflifeministries.com/courses to go to the video courses page. The bookstore is also available and has a free movie called Monumental, hosted by Kirk Cameron. Enjoy!
