There is a reason why I must deny myself, for out of myself came things pertaining to myself: selfishness, self-will, and even the lack of self-control because of my love for myself, which works the death of myself into a existence, but none of those things that has brought about the life of myself has came from myself, for I can only continue and improve myself in them.
I, myself, must understand that in me has come those things that cause me so much harm; for I see no harm is lasting unto the Eternal Self-Existent One that denied Himself and carried His cross for us all to receive the path of eternal life, which can be seen as the paths of loving others, as we love ourselves, especially the Spirit of the Love of Life, Himself.
So what, is there no good in myself? God made us all to be just like Him Who has good in Himself, so what of myself I have created in myself that is apart from Who He is, must be mortified and those dead works, halting my eternal life, shall be started to be cut off from myself.
So, me, myself, and I must become united into the fears of the One, Who, fearfully and wonderfully made us all. He loves everyone so much that His will is that none should perish but start loving as He loves, instead of their love of self over the love of others, especially the One that created, supplies life and every good things in all of our lives.
Do I regret not loving Him the way He loves me? Do I regret becoming the type of person that could do such a thing? Do I regret not denying myself so that I could love Him more than I love myself?
Then, the self of myself must become more inactive/mortified, so the One that brings life can be given liberty to bring those inactive parts of our love, which He made and supplies, back to life for eternity.
So, me, myself, and I do agree, for me to live, my self-will has to be sacrificed/crucified not the will of Him that made me, which the only eternal way of doing that is through denying myself, and crucifying the thoughts, desires, and will of myself to carry my cross.
I will cut off my self-will to carry His will, I will remove my selfishness by His fears of if I do not, and mature my ability over myself, and gain my self-control through working my repentance out continually.
Yes, me, myself, and I understand that the self of myself has the ability to take position that God should have in my life, but I do not want that anymore. The One that supplies that life to me, needs to be the One that saves me, that leads and guides me, that motivates my every actions, not myself, whom I cannot save by myself.
So, Christ should be the motivation of my every action, and self must be dead to that position. To let Christ live through me, I must crucify self's position to save myself so that Christ's position can become effective.
Repentance is that crucifying that my self needs: the repentful prayers, the search for the truth of His promises of life through His faithful word, and the continuing of living in the repented mind, will, and life, through following and giving all authority unto Him.
So, I have came up with one of my most important prayers of that repentive life, asked with the attitude of the unknowing one unto the All-Knowing One: "what is this, oh Lord, how shall I understand this, and what shall I do?" Until next time, God's blessings be upon you and yours; your friend and brother, Stephen Scottt.

© Brother Stephen Scottt