April 3 ... Give Up

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

John 12:24

As we offer up our lives

to You, a living sacrifice,

In our weakness, You're made strong.

In our death, You come alive.

Stop our strivings and our struggles;

we are nothing on our own.

Only as we die to self,

our presumptions, plans, desires

can we truly yield to You.

Even Jesus could not have risen

if He had not died.

And we'll never have His power

if we don't give up our lives.

For the seed must disappear

before the blade springs forth.

And the root must go down deep

before the branch can bring forth fruit.

Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 4:3; II Corinthians 12:9; Isaiah 45:9; Titus 3:4-6; Psalm 19:13; II Chronicles 30:8; Romans 6:13; II Corinthians 13:4; Matthew 16:25; Ephesians 3:16-18; John 12:24