The Center Cannot Be Self
“The emptiness of self is as flat as a barren plain—but the fullness of Christ makes even the desert bloom.”
E. Stanley Jones warns us in this entry against one of the most alluring distortions in spirituality: the idea that we are, in and of ourselves, divine. He contrasts this self-centric mindset with the biblical truth that while we share Christ’s life, we do not sustain Him—He sustains us. Any notion that shifts the center from Christ to self, even under religious or spiritual pretenses, is not only misguided but ultimately destructive.
Jones critiques what he calls the "spiritual self-strut," a posture that masquerades as empowerment but is actually disconnection from the true Source. He points to a woman who was initially thrilled by the idea of inherent divinity, only to later crash into despair, realizing the painful reality of her humanity. The very slogan that promised wings left her “flatter than a pancake.”
The devotional ultimately draws us back to the deepest truth of the universe: life is not found in grasping for self-realization, but in yielding to Christ’s indwelling presence. Real vitality flows not from self-cultivation, but from self-surrender—because apart from Christ, we can do nothing. And apart from Him, we are nothing but a swirling bundle of self-conflict and contradiction.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You were never designed to sustain yourself, child. I formed you not to be your own source, but to be a vessel of My life. The world shouts, “find yourself,” but I whisper, “lose yourself in Me and find life.” You are not divine, and that is no insult—it is freedom. Because I am the vine and you are the branch. Your only task is to remain in Me, and My life will flow through you.
There’s no power in self-focus. The more you gaze inward to prove your worth, the more your joy collapses under its own weight. But when your eyes lift to Me, you begin to live free. For whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. And you have died, and your life is now hidden with Me in God.
Let go of the illusion of self-importance. You were crucified with Me, and now it is no longer you who live, but I live in you. Your significance is not found in your uniqueness or your effort—it is found in Me, and in Me alone. I chose to dwell in you. I chose to limit My activity to your cooperation, not because I need you, but because I love you.
So walk not with a spiritual strut, but with a surrendered spirit. Let your confidence rest in who I am within you. I will be your sufficiency. Your identity is not a self you must realize—it is a Person you now contain. You are My workmanship. You are light because I shine in you.
Scriptures woven: John 15:5, Matthew 16:25, Colossians 3:3, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:13.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord Jesus, I’m so grateful that I no longer need to find my own light or cultivate my own strength. You are my life. You are the Source of every good thing in me. Thank You for removing the pressure of trying to be enough. In You, I already am complete. I trust You to live Your life through me today. Let me forget myself entirely in Your presence and simply enjoy being Yours. May everything I do today flow from the unshakable joy of knowing that I am in You and You are in me.
Devotional Credit:
E. Stanley Jones, In Christ, “Flatter Than a Pancake”
Photo Credit:
Unsplash.com
Unsplash Image Suggestion & Caption
Search phrase: "pancake flat landscape aerial view"
Suggested caption: