What’s interesting about these leaves, brilliantly bursting with color, is that they’re dying. It is only as the life drains from them that this beautiful transformation can take place. If those leaves were all still filled and flowing with their old life, there would be no picturesque scenes in the fall. All would simply be green.

Similarly, the Lord wants our lives to continually display the splendor of this season — having lives that exhibit great beauty as we “…consider [ourselves] dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). The Lord sees it as a beautiful thing when we choose to die to self so we can be fully His, and it is only a life like this that will attract the world and display God’s kingdom. That is why Jesus instructed us, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).

I pray my life can be one of those breathtaking fall leaves. In dying to self — in fully surrendering to Christ — may the true beauty of a life transformed by Jesus Christ be displayed in my life for others to behold.