In today's world we are told to look for power, independence & control. They saturate us w/ these messages w/c is the exact opposite of how Christ called us to live - w/ humility.
We cannot forget the very core of the gospel is to "die to ourselves". 1 Cor 3:11
We have to first live in total submission to God, if you don't first have a commitment to Christ, a respect for the word of God. A desire to really obey all he's commanded; you really can't move on to any other subject.
If there is something in your heart that is resisting to your submission & surrender to God what he has commanded to all of us believers, if you haven't been able to give that up yet, you cannot move on to any other subject. It's like putting the cart before the horse.
It always has to start there - to that foundation.
Dying to self doesn't mean giving up what's good for us. It means letting go of what's not so we can accept what is.