Overcome selfishness – Prayer for August 9. It is extremely easy to point out the selfishness in others, yet justify it in our own life. We notice when other people are being selfish to us, we notice when they put themselves and their own interests before ours but we rarely notice when it’s us who are being selfish.
Bible Verse for Today
I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! (1 Corinthians 15:31)
Selfishness is not trained behavior – we are born with it.
As soon as we accept Jesus as our Savior, He lives in us through His Holy Spirit. If we learn to be guided by the Holy Spirit and set our own desires aside, we can overcome selfishness. This feature may not disappear completely, but the one who is greater and lives in us helps us to be able to resist it daily: “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
The apostle Paul, one of the greatest followers of Jesus who ever lived, had difficulty overcoming his egotism. Living selflessly was a long way for him, just like any other human being. He wrote that he had to “die daily”. The same with each of us. We have not completely overcome egoism and maybe never will.
Christians are called to do the same as the apostle Paul. We can not live selfishly and at the same time expect to make a difference in this world. We have to “die to self daily”. This is not easy, but God will always give us the grace to do the right thing if we trust Him.
The truth is, living a selfless life is the best way to experience joy, peace, and justice before God every day.
Overcome Selfishness Prayer for Today
Lord, I am not perfect, but I know that, like the apostle Paul, I can overcome my selfishness. God, give me the strength to become unselfish. Lord, please show me how to rid of my selfishness so you can work through me. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
