None of Self and All of Thee

Well, here we go! I have never been much of a blogger, but I have had several ask me if I wouldn't mind beginning to provide some challenging thoughts as we attempt to grow in our spiritual maturity. So, this is a start.

You may have noticed the title for my blog: "Growing from Self to God." Why in the world did I title it that? I'm glad you asked. Recently someone asked me how I would define Spiritual Formation. While several long definitions began to formulate in my mind, I believe the Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and told me to keep it simple. I then stumbled through my words to say, "Spiritual Formation is the movement from self to God." You see, the whole of spiritual growth can be summed up by saying that we are in a process of growing from self to God.

Recently I was taking a class and the professor asked each student to think of songs that would describe milestones in their spiritual formation. While most students came up with several different songs for each milestone, I could really only think of one song that is not familiar to most. You can find it in most of our song books. It's called, "None of Self and All of Thee." It was actually written way back in the 1800's (Theodore Monod/James McGranahan). Yet the words are powerful and ring true as to how we all seem to grow toward spiritual maturity. Here are the words:

Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
All of self, and none of Thee,
All of self, and none of Thee,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”

Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.” 

Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Less of self, and more of Thee,
Less of self, and more or Thee,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.” 

Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”

None of self, and all of Thee,None of self, and all of Thee,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.” 

We all know that the greatest command to love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To love Him wholly! So, to grow toward Him means to grow apart from ourselves. From the beginning (Adam and Eve), humans have had to ask themselves who will be the god of their life: God or Self? Satan's temptation was NOT the fruit, it was "You can be LIKE God." In other words, you can be your own god. As Christians, we make the choice to make God God, and not ourselves. 

Jesus said that if you want to follow Him you have to deny yourself (Luke 9:23-25). I encourage us all to continue to take those baby steps towards God and away from ourselves. To move to that place in our lives where we can stand up and shout with all abandonment to God, "NONE OF SELF, AND ALL OF THEE!!!" PRAISE GOD!