Indiviual (Individuality)

Matthew 16:24–26 (NLT)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today’s Language December 11: Individuality

Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people.

My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today’s Language December 11: Individuality

Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love.

My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today’s Language December 11: Individuality

December 11

Individuality

“Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself … ‘” (Matthew 16:24).

Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23–24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “… let him deny himself …”—deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life—the spiritual life—is allowed the opportunity to grow.