Self-Stuff

I want to share something I made inspired by something Beth Moore wrote in the devotional "Jesus."
According to Luke 9:23, we are to take up our cross daily and die to self if we want to be a disciple of Christ.  In one of my devotional readings, Beth Moore included a list of her "self-stuff" that she asks God to take away from her.  It's so interesting how pride can masquerade as self-loathing.  "Self-exaltation," started the list.  At first, I didn't even flinch as my eyes glided down the page until I read "self-loathing" and "self-sufficiency."  Immediately, I felt convicted.  "You mean self-loathing isn't being modest? Self-sufficiency is self-stuff too!" I had been assuming I was denying self by self-loathing and being prideful in my self-sufficiency.

My dear friend Ashley hid some candy for me on Easter and this candy cross was one of the contents of a golden egg.  I placed it on a rock below her flowering tree.

I also received a daily devotional from Telling the Truth (the Briscoes) in good timing that had a list of some common fleshly tendencies:

• Performance flesh: The hard worker. Well-adjusted, aggressive, outgoing, positive, motivated, driven, take charge kind of person. Their motto is “Just do it,” and they often run over others to get stuff done.
• Religious flesh: The “Good Christian.” Passive, nice, sweet, obedient, dutiful, pious, sanctimonious. With a motto of “What would Jesus do?”, they are often legalistic and judgmental because other people don’t match their own religious achievements.
• Superior flesh: The “snob,” outwardly proud, defensive, conceited, know-it-all. They look down on other people because they’re not as bright or as wise as they are. Their motto is, “Nobody does it better.”
• Comfort flesh: The laid-back easy-going person, cautious, indecisive, unmotivated, and avoids conflict like the plague. Their motto is, “That’s not my job, someone else will take care of it.”
• Victim flesh: Negative, complaining, defeated, self-pitying. Their motto is “the world hates me.” They are often unforgiving and blaming.
• Caretaker flesh: The enabler, rescuer, fixer. Often obsessive, nagging, overly responsible, overly protective. Their motto is, “Look at all I’ve done for you.” They long to be needed.
• Pleaser flesh: The nice guy. Compliant, submissive, compromising, self-neglecting. Has a hard time saying no and says yes to too much in order to feel accepted. Their motto is, “I did it for love.”
• Indulgent flesh: The compulsive person. Obsessive, easy addicted, insatiable, thrill seeker, pleasure seeker. Their motto is, “If it feels good, do it.”
• Hostile flesh: The abusive antisocial person. Angry, domineering, vengeful, quick tempered, hateful. Their motto is, “Do unto others before they do unto you.” Their desire is to dominate and control, often to protect themselves.

I must say I am bent toward performance flesh, indulgent flesh, and caretaker flesh.  That would be me in my natural without the Holy Spirit working in my heart.

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Galatians 5:16