Finding Life in the strangest ways

Everyone comes to life with hopes and dreams- a burning desire for happiness- for prosperity - maybe even acclaim- the desire to be respected, admired, and remembered. The desire to be taken seriously- to establish myself- to make a name for myself- to feel validated. I have heard that self preservation is the most powerful human instinct. I wonder if this goes beyond physical self preservation and extends to ego preservation and name preservation for eternity? I have felt it so often myself. It has motivated so many of my own efforts- this desire to make my mark- to be well thought of and yes remembered. Matthew 16:24-25 If anyone would come after Me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me; for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. It's all so backwards- so foreign to my instincts. I think I know how to arrange my own happiness- I think I know how to achieve weght and respect in this world. Pursue the things I want- comfort, pleasure, respect- in fact I will demand my due respect- you can't treat me that way- don't you know who I am? Make plans- use my cleverness or position or raw power to get what I want........... It is a Godless way to live- some have called it practical agnosticism. Then along comes Jesus, talking about losing my life for Him. Trust me Charles- You trust Me for your hope of eternal life- why won't you trust Me for your life in this world- why won't you immerse yourself- lose yourself in Me? I have come to bring you Life. I have come to give you a new name-why won't you give up trying to save the old one? It is so strange- this way of Jesus. To find MY life I must give up looking for it. I must surrender my name-my identity. Strange or not, it is His call and He is worthy. Father God, Lord Jesus, Friend Jesus, Precious Holy Spirit- Make Your way clear for me today- Move in me for the courage and Love to lose myself in You- I will do my best minute by minute to be lost in You- to live out of Your presence in me. Amen.