Daily Dying or Daily “Trying”

4/23/25

What is the difference between “I die daily” and “I try daily”?

Intimacy and living in Jesus vs. for Jesus seems like a big difference.

Trying: “You search the Scriptures [or fret and try hard to do the right thing or flop around on the ground like a fish complaining it’s too hard] because you think they give you eternal life. [Eternal life is KNOWING HIM.] But the Scriptures point to me” (John 5:39)!! No intimacy, just striving for a relationship instead of...

Dying: “You, deny your very self, take up your cross and FOLLOW ME” (Matthew 16:24). Following, no matter where He leads me, is super simple. It doesn’t require trying because HE is all in all living through me and I in Him. “I am the vine. You are branches” (John 15:5). Him in us, us in Him.

“Try” is still my self-life living. I think I have something to bring to the table when Jesus wants FULL Abandonment and emptying of my self-life and self-view. Empty and lower is how Jesus can manifest HIMself. : )

Trying involves a monitor-able gauge: the “try-o-meter,” the “success-o-meter,” the “compare-o-meter.” Dying is just a switch. It is on or it is off!

Similar to this, I was picturing the Tower of Babel. Brick upon brick upon brick of effort in an attempt to reach God. And He STILL frustrates, confuses, and confounds the plans of those trying to build a tower to the sky (flesh striving). God has different plans for us reaching Him, that involve joining Him UNDER the ground in a tomb. Everyone’s responses about “trying” had to do with chaos, confusion, fatigue, wrestling, discouragement... and dying was described as a place of rest. Resting in peace, as the dead do.

RIP!! I like that. : )

Trying is still holding on. Staying in control. Letting go, falling, dying daily is the only place where Flying, soaring, z-axis happens.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. And how we’ve talked about how we won’t experience His power, Heaven life if we won’t Trust Him enough to let go of our life and die. Once at the beginning of our Life with Him and then every day taking up our cross and falling, dying, flying, soaring. The daily falling, dying, flying, soaring all happen in synchronicity.

For me, dying sometimes is letting go of and stopping the radio (obsessive perfection or regret or worry that I did or am doing the wrong thing, blah, blah, etc.) and/or turning simply to Jesus and others instead of trying to apply what I’ve heard about dealing with the radio and fighting it. Thanks.

I die daily: “Where You go, I will go.” Done. Nothing held back. I try daily: “Hmmm, I’ll see what I can do about that.” Self is the final decision-maker. Boundaries are possible.

Dying doesn’t guarantee I won’t fail, but it does mean my failures will be on the frontlines of His commands. I can fail in hearing His whisper and carrying it out, but I “know my place” in HIS universe, and I keep myself there daily or return immediately when I realize I have drifted. I am “in order,” permanently, and each new day.

I die daily has true power. A declaration statement! I WILL put to death the things of the flesh, offering those things as a gift to Jesus for him, done, decided, over! I try daily is weak, almost expecting failure. Leaning more on willpower for me, rather than for Jesus.

Try has a “way” in mind that I need to get to, apply, and do. Die has Only God in mind and is out of control. It feels much more broken and undone. In the end, I don’t feel like I have attained anything. I just moved my ego, effort, self-thoughts, and worries out of the way and let go in that happy-stupid way. It’s the free fall where you keep falling. It’s the abandonment of the joy ride in the wheelbarrow while you totter and sway back and forth on the tight rope, but you Trust Him. I won’t know “how I’m doing” or if I’m “succeeding” but there is peace with Him.

I was thinking yesterday we don’t “try” to be like Him. We melt away the open hands of any of our self/brain because we only want Him. There’s a deep, peaceful dependence and freedom there, and His Spirit vs. trying to be something feels like day vs. night.

Dying is humility and Love. Death has lost its sting because that’s the only place HE is found even if it’s an “out of (your) control” “unknown” place. But it’s the only Real place to be.

Trying is all effort and all self. Dying is completely letting go of self and striving and effort (to fix yourself or be better) of any kind.

I die daily is Abandonment and letting go and letting JESUS live and move and Be in me.

I try daily is striving and “me” in the driver’s seat, in control. It’s like closing my eyes and taking a deep Breathe of His air vs. gritting my teeth.

Yes. Free falling versus clinging to the side of the wall looking for another way that’s easier or safer or ...

Trying daily is very fatiguing.

And He said to all, If any person wants to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] (Matthew 16:24).

“Trying” leaves open other options. “Well I tried... but now, since it didn’t work...” Trying is saving something for the swim back. Dying surrenders himself completely to the swim, no plan B.”

Trying is still self-focused striving that you “performed” well and can feel good about yourself and performance vs...He is your very great reward.

A nine-year-old: “If I’m ‘trying’ that means I probably won’t do it. So the difference is pretty obvious.”

Ouch! : )

Who Is the Greatest

Trying: climbing up a hill and slipping over and over again, trying to reach the peak, go over the top, attain the goal.

Dying: doesn’t care about the hill or making it over the peak or succeeding at a “goal.” The walk with Jesus along the way IS the peak, each step, each bump or slip along the way, turning and leaning on Him. Dying doesn’t need a peak and soars after letting go.

“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ This phrase, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-27).

Can you explain the picture? Or give another hint?

If a little bit of heat melts your version of Jesus, it ain’t Jesus, it’s religion.

Liberty Mutual vs. Mutual Liberty

Yeeessss. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

I remembered this picture, from “Beautiful Mind.” It’s his imaginary “friends” standing there while he ignores them.

As tempting as it is, “trying harder” just doesn’t lead anywhere.

Not sure if that picture makes sense, but it’s the radio, the dark wolf, self...wrapped in a promise of comfort and familiarity that is truly a Lie.

One is open hands, letting go, abandoned. Letting God bring Life out of death—that miracle He does as we embrace the process. Self dies. Jesus is Alive! Dying comes out of LOVE. The other is striving, working, and grinding. Trying to muster something ourselves still has self alive at its root. It doesn’t produce real change.

Dying seems like it’s an emptying of the “cup” (the wants, fears, thoughts and preferences) so Jesus can fill it. “Trying” seems like the process of adding to a cup that already is filled with other “stuff.” There’s no room for anything really New.

The fruit of dying daily is, “The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead Quickens our mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). (If Indeed I’ve truly died) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]” (John 6:63 AMP).

Try, strive, quit—all fail. Judge, weigh, self, me—all still fail. Die, Trust, Rest—have LIFE!

Dying allows Jesus to be on the throne and make the decisions. Trying is my flesh’s “good ideas” wanting to take charge instead of giving Him complete submission.

Ummm... “try” seems to focus on human effort where to die is walking by the Spirit of God with the mind of Christ.

“I try daily to do all of the things that are right so that I won’t feel disappointment, regret, judgement, guilt, consequences.”

“I die daily because He is all there is.”

Trying has a lot of cares and worries attached still, dying does not.

My favorite is “I try to die daily” as though “dying” is one of those “right” things to do “so that...” Any time there is a “so that” buried deep down in my heart, I’m trying not dying.

Because He is all there is, is reason enough to die daily.

“I try daily” can be self T R Y I N G, straining to be something—or at least trying to appear to be something they are not—by self-effort, but self still wants something for self. “I die daily” is only possible if I have surrendered self to Jesus to be put to death, and He and His Spirit has given me New Birth and I live by faith in the Son of God. When new challenges or temptations arise, I can say no to the old self and yes to Jesus, Who is now my Life and my Life Source.  I “see” Him, who is invisible and love Him, trust Him who enables me to “die daily” to worthless things, that fade into nothing when compared to Jesus, His Beauty, Wisdom, Love and Life.

Focus on Him and what He’s doing versus focus on self and what I’m doing.

I die daily: Abandoned. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. A Lover. I try daily: A striver. Focused on X and Y Self-focused.

I die daily...I make choices today to give up my will, to lay down the thing in the moment that my flesh is wanting vs. xy effort and striving but still not really letting go.

“I die daily” means I’m a corpse on the ground with no agenda or plans or rights—it doesn’t matter what happens to me. “I try daily” means I’m still alive and having something to protect or defend.

“I can’t get this right, no matter how hard I try” vs. letting go, falling back into Jesus’s hands, and letting Him lead. Peace comes rushing in.

I die daily starts with Worship. I acknowledge who God Is.

One is inviting a Miracle from Heaven—totally out of control, totally about letting go. The other is still up to me, and I still stay on the throne. I can give myself excuses like “I’m trying” and still stay in control of my life.

Trying to obey all the rules vs. following the Lamb wherever He goes.

Dying is being abandoned to Jesus’ whisper in the garden, trying is me still protecting my reputation or desire to be “right.” Only Jesus is Right so, Shhhhh.

Dying daily takes humility and sensitivity to see the missed marks, to bend my head and heart to my Savior and King with trust that He is the resurrection Life. Trying daily just strengthens the self-life and ends up down that old road to nowhere.

I die daily—I’m out of the picture. No longer I, but Christ. I try daily—attempting to stay in the picture because I think I have something to offer.

Trying is to reach for a self-proclaimed goal by willpower. Dying is a cross—choosing exposure and humiliation of my flesh. Not my will but Yours, the One who raises the dead.

It seems like a litmus test between the two is that having a “score” in my mind of “how well I did today” or in a particular situation comes from “trying,” whereas that “score” doesn’t even make sense as a topic if I’m dying.

I try: I’m in the driver seat. I die daily: I’m in the trunk and Jesus is in the driver seat!!

Trying is excuse-making, giving myself an excuse not to go all the way if it gets “too hard.” “It’s easy for others but not for me.” Dying is laying it ALL at Jesus’ feet come what may. Never taking the “easy way out,” “Bring it on, whatever You want Jesus!”

Death is death, trying is still squirming, convulsing, fighting the surrender.

“I die daily” = Absolute surrender is my life, a declaration, it’s who I am, I am a dead person. The statement exudes Simplicity that comes from surrender to the Yoke and a life that rejoices, “His yoke is easy and His burden is light!” and truly LIVES that—because there’s nothing I’m holding onto but HIM. Peace.

“I try daily” = I want to, but it doesn’t always happen, comes from a place of will power vs. abandonment, is about effort and “achievement.” Sounds like bargaining, which a dead man can’t do, and a whiny, “this is hard” attitude. Struggling and wriggling.

Children often say, “I tried!” When they think they can’t do what their parents ask. It’s not only disobedience, but also saying, “You are a cruel master!” Like in the parable of the talents.

Trying gives the option of having various degrees of effort, try less sometimes, try more sometimes based on a variety of factors of mood or willpower or remembering… Death is final and there’s only one way to do it.

“I tried” could be said in a whiny voice with some self-pity mixed in. “I died”—just a statement of fact, if said at all.

Trying daily: the source is in myself, my strength, my performance, my duty, etc. Whatever I’m “trying” to do, it’s for me. There is a lot of inner “noise” and chaos. Dying daily: This decision has already been made by covenant. Simple trusting, worship, and obedience. This is for Jesus, not for me. It is a much quieter, peaceful place.

Dying is surrendering total control to Someone else. I have no thoughts or preferences because I’m gone and He’s everything. Trying still lets me have an opinion and emotion about what “death” should look or feel like.

It’s a difference of source AND outflow. Dying is a love and letting-go response to what HE brings into my life this very moment. It brings Supernatural life without fail. Trying comes from MY own agenda and pursuit of a substitute for His Real current thought. It brings misery (inner death) and a disconnect with God and others.

“I die daily”: Only accepting Jesus’ thoughts and opinions, and feelings as my own. No “what if or if then” self radio. Beholding the Champion and Pioneer who has walked the cross before and “died daily” before as my only hope of “dying daily” in the first place. No hope in myself WHATSOEVER.

I try daily: Leaving room for “I” and “me” and “yeah, but” and “what if.” Thinking that being calculated and careful is more important and “spiritual” than just saying, “Jesus, you’re all I’ve got and all I want. Take the keys again!” Thinking my preferences, opinions, and little self-evidences matter.

I have not lived this out to the fullest yet, but my Heart’s desire!! For Him and HIS Glory!

Letting go versus effort and striving.

Interacting with Abba at the heart level versus interacting with head knowledge and the mind.

Breathing. Inhale, exhale. Pneuma, versus holding your breath, gritting your teeth through it in effort.

Seems like “I’m trying” still leaves room for the right to say when something is “just too hard.” Dying is letting go of the threshold and embracing whatever He has for us with softness, open hands, and trust, moment by moment.

This isn’t just theory. Some faces come to mind of folks who created a prison for themselves out of “I tried so hard and still failed, so I quit.” They’re in that prison on a “life sentence.” Dying is the only way out.

I was listening to some Michael Card music yesterday. “Give up on your pondering and fall on your knees.” That is very different than trying to understand. It was good for me. It feels like the difference between trying and dying.

Trying is not complete. It allows excuses for not having “made it,” and allows me to feel sorry for myself or “pat myself on the back” if I think I did well. I evaluate my effort. None of that is part of my Covenant. Dying is complete. NO excuses. Given over to God, done. Only He evaluates. He stays Lord, not me. Dying daily IS my Covenant with Him.

One is abandoned (Z), a Christian, and one is still holding onto themselves (XY). David versus Saul came to my mind after reading some of these.

Trying is complicated, and lots of thoughts, painful, and miserable. Knowing I’m already dead and choosing to stay dead and Alive only to Jesus is a life of daily dying.

Snipping and surrender vs. mustering something up with a focus on me and doing it “right.”

Trying is me doing something “for God” and therefore within my predetermined boundaries of possible. Me playing god. Dying is that out-of-control, but peaceful place where I give God all the room to show up however He chooses. It’s the place where miracles happen. Letting God be God.

“I’m trying” opens the door to look to some earthly thing for comfort, security, direction, strength when things hit that “just too hard” threshold. It’s an excuse. “I’m dying” means Jesus is ALL that is left—and all that I want—closing the door to feel-good thresholds and any other source.

To try daily is a place of striving and sweating and self-effort, self-analysis, self-focus, comparisons, and doing things for God. To die daily is a place of abandonment and trust, a place of resting, it doesn’t matter what happens to me. It’s listening for Father’s voice with open hands. “For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). A place of anticipation.

“I die daily” means willingly giving myself up to God’s Plans each and every day. Trusting He’s a Good Father, that He knows best, and loves us infinitely more than we can imagine. “I try daily” means still having ulterior motives, however subtle—my own plans in my back pocket. But whether dying or trying, each speaks for itself.

I try daily looks to self as the source of Life. I die daily looks to the One who is Life and has conquered Death and knows He is the only Way.

I was thinking of a specific example. If there is a difficult relationship or even a child who is challenging, “trying” might be to try to “make the right choices” in the heat of the moment. Trying to control the tension. It’s not true Love, Agape...Instead of abandoning the moment in softness and having no opinions. “It doesn’t matter what happens to me.” Letting go of the back and forth war inside, and vertically looking to what they need. What makes them tick to help them. Abandoning what “rubs” me and accepting them (if it’s not sin). That’s Dying.

I’m thinking... Dying just IS. Reality. Aletheia. Knees bowed. Face to face with God. There are no steps or considerations between my issue at hand and dying, being dead.

The divide between the two can maybe also be summed up by this: Do I have a Father?

Try is: I’ll probably fail again but I’ll try. I’m doing my best, but I keep messing up. You’ll never overcome like that. It’s about you and your ability rather than Jesus. Die is: I belong to Jesus. I’m hanging on to Him, my only hope. I’m empty without Him.

“Trying” involves wanting to be “successful” vs. letting go of even that. “Jesus, I just want this moment to be Yours. I don’t have to feel good or like that I ‘did it.’ I just want You to be happy.”

Trying is self-effort and leaves room for failure or success and all the emotional energy that goes with those. It sucks energy instead of energizing. Dying is abandoning self-life and giving God free rein (Reign!). Success and failure aren’t on His plane (Z). “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).

One can even “try” to die...Or take my shoes off and on bended knees with head bowed, know He is All I want and All I need. Listen for the whispers and follow. Everything else—voices, ideas, desires, opinions, judgements—Let it go. ; )

“A striver (I Try and try) and a lazy man (I’ve Tried that) both suffer the same fate—misery, fruitlessness, futility, and ashes to ashes—dust to dust. Only a lover (I Die daily) enjoys a different fate.”

Dying—Meet God on HIS ground and let go of the things that He lays His finger on, like analysis. Freefall, letting go, where there’s life. He’s got this.

Trying—flesh, “let go” of “what I think of” instead of let go of what God asks me to let go of, like analysis. This leads to chaos.

Trying, boasts, cowers, grasps, lounges, controls, “gives up.” Dying relinquishes, gives, let’s go 100%.

Adaptation of a quote: “We are Christians, we don’t try, we die!” ...that Jesus would Live!

Dying is joining Jesus; trying is staying alone in a cage.

One child answered: “It’s like following your paper and not your Conductor. Just obeying is doing it with all your heart, and trying to obey is way much harder.”

A mother asked a four-year-old to tell her what it’s like when he gives up his will and says no to himself. He said, “I do it when I Trust Jesus. And then ‘I Love You Jesus!’ just comes out!” Then I asked him what happens when you just try really hard to do something? He said, “I feel all bad and sad.”

Everything that isn’t DYING is the top graphic.

“Try” is eating from the wrong tree. Thinking that equality with God is to be obtained. Only death (and continual reckoning DEAD to the insurrection of our satanic self “deciding what is good,” aka God, instead of abandoning to His Life and Peace without UNDERSTANDING... Peace that PASSES “understanding.”)

•  Country Club or Boot Camp?