Saturday, August 22, 2009

Selfishness Dies Today


I grip a rusty nail, clutching it in my weary hand.

Today, a day to pierce. A day to crucify.
Crucify my flesh, my selfishness that has run rampant too long.

Nail it to the cross, forcing a selfish heart to surrender all as His blood drips and His mercy flows.

A daring prayer coming from the depths of my heart ... Crush me Lord, until there is nothing left of Sarah Dawn, that my life may exude a fragrant aroma and only be resurrected in your power and glory.

In His gentleness, mercy, and strength, He holds the clay of my life in His fingers and crushes. It hurts. I cry out with tears of joy mingled with the pain.

My heart exposed, my selfishness revealed in the light of His grace.

I roll the nail in my hand. A tinge of doubt. I've grown accustomed to my selfish ways.

Jesus, you took the nail for me. This time, I ask you take the hammer.

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38 comments:

Heart2Heart said...

Sarah Dawn,

I love this! I just spills over everything in my life under that complete surrender to God's will in everything I do, everything I say and everything I can think. Let it all be surrendered under the love and mercy of Jesus' sacrifice for us.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Lisa notes... said...

What a lovely poem, Sarah. I followed your link from the comment you left on my blog. Our youth group went to Costa Rica 2 weeks ago to help a local church there. They fell in love with it and didn't want to come home. May God bless your ministry!

You have a beautiful blog. I love the colors and joy.

Mich said...

Too beautiful. A great reminder for me, after a very long week. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

This was so very POWERFUL. Thank you for this reminder!

Brook said...

I really enjoyed this post. It reminds me of that I have been learning from the book Authentic Faith by Gary Thomas. The chapter I just read was on selflessness and focused on the apostle Paul.

My brother-in-law's brother used to be a YWAM missionary in Costa Rica. :)

Thanks for your comment on my blog! Brook

Anonymous said...

This is a brave prayer. Like the prayer "Make me like Jesus" ...can I drink that cup? can I bear the crushing? Yet drink and be crushed we must be if the journey is to be one of obedience!

Deep thoughts here, as always

Yolanda said...

Never thought of this in that light...Lord Jesus, take the hammer.

Hmmmm...

Tracy said...

What a beautiful and heartfelt post! Thank you for sharing your heart and offering a reminder. Bless you!

Unknown said...

Oh precious one!

Is there anything more beautiful than a humble spirit willing to nail it all down for Him?

Your heart is just spilling over for us all to learn such important lessons about His grace, mercy and love!

Oh do I know the pain of this prayer and wanting to walk so close to Him that I feel the pain of my nails being hammered - but then GOD brings forth beauty and sets me free!

This time He has set me FREE to dance for HIM!

I love you!
Can't wait to hug you in person!!!!
xoxo Jill

RCUBEs said...

You inspire us to continue to surrender ourselves completely to the Lord. It is as if I could hear those people roaring the louder: "Crucify Him"...when we should have been yelling: "Crucify us"...How deep His love is...Blessings.

He & Me + 3 said...

Beautiful my friend. May I always surrender to His perfect will & Die daily to myself.

Eagles Wings said...

Wow -

Beth Herring said...

Little by little, day by day, we must learn to crucify our flesh and let those parts of us that are not in His will die once and for all. Nail them to that Cross and then leave them there.

Beautiful post.

Deb said...

Sarah Dawn,

Your words--your prayer:

"Crucify my flesh, my selfishness that has run rampant too long."

Captured my heart. My soul.

Became my prayer.

Sweet dreams.

Sarah said...

Sweet sister,

Thank you for always calling me on to a deeper, more authentic, holier walk with our Lord. He is worthy!

Blessings,
Sarah

TanyaLea said...

Wow Sarah Dawn! ~
Your words never cease to amaze me. Truly a mindful post that each of should ponder to a greater depth. Love the visual, too!!

Blessings and Hugs dear friend!! <><
~Tanya

Andrea said...

blessings and prayers, andrea

Denise said...

Amen, joining you in this beautiful prayer sweetie.

Debbie Petras said...

Sarah Dawn, I love your humble spirit as you are so honest about where you are. You desire to cruciy your flesh and allow Him to work in and through you. Amen to that. I too want that in my life. Less of Sarah Dawn and Debbie, more of Him. I join you in that my friend.

Sharon Sloan said...

Sarah: I love the passion and cry of your heart.

I am reading two books I think you would love (if you haven't read them already):

"Brokenness, Surrender and Holiness" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss www.reviveourhearts.com

"Valley of Vision - Collection of Puritan Prayers and Poems" (right up your alley!)

May He whisper to your heart today His love and acceptance of you!

Mary Moss said...

Sarah, I am at a similar place in my life as well. Yes, I understand tears - of sorrow for my sinfulness, pain of what we must endure to be truly remade into God's image, rejoicing and gladness at the possibility for rebirth - each and every day.

Praying for you on your journey!

Caroline said...

Wow! powerful and so daring. I needed to hear that, directly jolting me out of my selfshiness. My first time to visit your blog and it really hit me with that message. I look forward to exploring more of your sharing. Caroline

Searching for God in the everyday said...

Sarah Dawn,

This is beautiful and inspiring. Your walk with Jesus is so incredibly passionate. I love it!

Blessings,
Cory =)

Alicia The Snowflake said...

OH how beautiful! Thank you for the reminder to die to our own self and selfishness. Thank you for your kind comment on my blog. I pray God gives you grace for the journey ahead. Blessings my friend!

Adeye said...

Phew---STUNNING!

Sending you heaps of love and praying that ALL your plans to move are coming together perfectly.

christy rose said...

Thanks for the reminder of our necessity to die daily to the cravings of our flesh.

Nancy said...

Beautifully written. The ending was a stunner. God is using you in a powerful way through this blog.

Ike said...

The call to Calvary must be recognized for what it is...a call to discipleship under the lorship of Jesus Christ. To respond to that call is to become a believer. Anything less is simply unbelief.

Laura said...

Sarah Dawn! I'm thrilled you stopped in to see me because I have been blessed by this splash of HIm!

A very moving post, one I well need to revisit.

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

Still taking this in ...

Powerful, Sarah Dawn. Your prayer took my breath away: Could I pray that prayer tonight?

Wow. Thank you.

The Byrd's Nest said...

I love this song by Jeremy Camp.
Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me.

Holy Fire burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me,
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,
Empty me, yeah,
Fill, won't you fill me,
with you, with you, yeah.

Holy Fire, burn away,
my desire for anything
that is not of you and is of me.
I want more of you and less of me, yeah.
Empty me,
Empty me, yeah.
Fill, won't you fill me, with you, with you, empty me now.

Well won't you empty me, well won't you empty me now.
I want more, I want more, I want more of you, Jesus.
I want more, I want more, oh.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus, oh yeah,
Thank you, Jesus, yeah.
Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire.

Anonymous said...

How POWERFUL was this. Your desire to grow close to our Savior is so inspiring. Grow my dear...grow & continue to plant those seeds in your children's hearts...

Karen said...

What a blessing this was to me, Sarah Dawn! Your final line made my heart leap within me.....

Debbie Petras said...

Sarah Dawn, I don't know how I missed this one! How convicting this was to me. Selfishness dies today! I need to substitute my name in there as you prayed that nothing be left of you. Oh how I would love that my life would exude a fragrant aroma. What a way with words you have Sarah Dawn. And yet they are powerful words of truth. Love you!

Kat said...

How beautifully spoken. I always delight in the illustrations you come up with.
Kat

Angela said...

Selishness Dies Today..amen amen amen...

Thank you SO much for sharing this devotional that has ministered to my heart greatly this evening.

I KNOW it was not by chance that God lead me to read this one right now. This TOO is my heart' cry..

((hugs))

Beautiful Mess said...

This was AWESOME! Beautiful!

Nice to meet you, looking forward to hearing more.

Tricia said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving me a comment (no idea how you found me, but happy you did). Glad my Andrew brought a smile your way today. He's always doing that for me.

I've enjoyed reading some of your posts. This one certainly resonated with me. A daring prayer for sure.

May God bless you and your family

Tricia