Loving not our lives - even unto death.  That says it all.  When we come to the crossroads of our hearts, there is a choice to make.  What is more precious to us - the will of God or the desires of the flesh?   Do we want what we want?  Or do we want what He wants?  Do we have to have everything figured out?  Do we have to have an answer for everything we don't understand?  Does the head or the heart rule our decisions?  It is at this juncture that we come to the threshold of decisions that make the difference in overcoming or being overcome.   The heart is deceitful; above all things who can know it?  God knows our hearts much better than we do.  Even when we think we know, we don't know like we need to know.  His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are far above our own. (Isaiah 55:9)   Things may look fine on the surface, but then God breaks out His Holy Ghost vacuum cleaner that has a way of getting to the hidden things deep within us.   It is not always the prettiest sight.  But He is the BEST surgeon and only needs our cooperation to operate.  When we humble ourselves before Him, He is faithful to do His part and help us along.  This is all part of allowing His life to abide in us.  As His life abides in us our life becomes hidden in Him. (Col. 3:3)  As we abide in Him our lives are absorbed in His Presence; His light consumes the darkness and we find His rest.  A dead person knows how to rest and does not strive to make things happen.  It is only when we reckon ourselves dead because of what Christ has already done on the cross that we realize His work of the cross in our own lives.  (Gal. 2:20) 

In the address to the angels of the Book of Revelation - the churches, Jesus brings very strong affirmation, correction and promises as incentives to motivate us to overcome in this life.  The new "Overcomers" CD reflects the heart of God in this respect. [click here] to listen to the new release of Overcomers "To Him Who Overcomes" A Prophetic Declaration to the Modern Day Church of Revelation.