 
                “A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. He also that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, And before honour is humility.”
Proverbs 18:7-12 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.18.7-12.KJV
Dying to Live
Dying to ourselves can feel like a bad thing. Most people want to exalt, applaud, and promote themselves.
But in God’s kingdom, dying to ourselves is essential.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NIV 
A lump of clay cannot become a work of art unless it is shaped into something else. A container of paint cannot be used for a masterpiece unless it is first poured out. A carbon deposit must change in order to become a diamond. A caterpillar must give up its old way of life in order to become a magnificent butterfly.
The invitation to die is actually an invitation to live.
When we give our lives to God, we’re choosing to surrender our plans, our desires, and our gifts. And that can be hard. But we also know there is something better—and Someone better—on the other side.
God can realign our plans, reshape ...