July 26

My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. — Job 42:5 BSB

We must recognize the true nature of our self-life—its corruption and destructiveness. We must willingly submit to its death, as Abraham did with Isaac, laying it down in sacrifice before God.

This is difficult for the natural heart, but once the will is surrendered and the choice made, the struggle is over, and the death is accomplished. The moment we yield, the agony is past, and we are often surprised at how quickly the victory comes.

Usually, the crisis of life hinges on a single point. God doesn’t need to strike us in many areas to bring about death to self. There’s one place that touches the core of our hearts, and that’s where God strikes—our most cherished possession, our decisive plan, the very center of our will. Once we yield there, everything else falls into place. But if we refuse at that point, a spirit of compromise seeps into the rest of our lives. Lord, give us the grace to fully yield to Your will in every area of our lives, both outwardly and inwardly.