67. Why Today is a Good Day to Die

10 snips

Aug 25, 2026

A reflection on mortification and why 'dying' to impulses can free you to live more fully. Stories and Scripture—from Samuel Johnson to Flannery O'Connor and Psalm 51—show how death sharpens priorities. A clear contrast between the impulsive self and the valuing self. Practical, small steps to weaken destructive desires and practice greater freedom today.

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INSIGHT

Mortification Reframed As Positive Practice

Mortification traces back to words about death and means intentionally putting parts of yourself to death for spiritual growth.
John Ortberg reframes the term as a powerful, positive practice rather than mere misery.

INSIGHT

How Death Concentrates Your Mind

Facing death sharpens priorities and gives clarity to what truly matters.
John Ortberg cites Samuel Johnson: knowing death is imminent 'concentrates his mind wonderfully.'

ANECDOTE

Grandmother's Moment Of Grace In O'Connor Story

Flannery O'Connor's story A Good Man Is Hard to Find shows a grandmother transformed in a death moment.
The grandmother briefly recognizes the Misfit's humanity and reaches out, prompting grace then tragedy.

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Today is a good day to die.

Which means it's a good day to come alive.

In this reflection on Psalm 51, John Ortberg explores an old Christian word that doesn't get used much anymore: mortification.

It sounds miserable.

But properly understood, mortification isn't about becoming miserable.

It's about becoming free.

John describes two selves within us: the impulsive self, driven by whatever we happen to want right now, and the valuing self, shaped by what we most deeply believe matters: love, joy, peace, patience and generosity.

The goal of the spiritual life isn't to spend every day desperately resisting everything we want.

It's to increasingly become the kind of person who is no longer controlled by destructive desires.

Drawing from Psalm 51, Romans 8, and Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find, John explores Jesus' strange invitation to die in order to truly live.

To mortify is to liberate.

And it can begin with one very small act today.

In this episode:

What “mortification” actually means
Jesus' paradox of dying in order to live
Samuel Johnson on how death clarifies life
Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find
Psalm 51 and David's prayer of repentance
The impulsive self vs. the valuing self
Why following Jesus isn't endless miserable resistance
How destructive desires lose their power
Mortification as liberation
A simple practice for becoming more free today

Scriptures:
Psalm 51 • Romans 8:13 • 2 Samuel 11–12 • Matthew 16:25

#Psalm51 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #Freedom #DyingToSelf #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Jesus #Transformation

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Today Is a Good Day to Die
00:32 Why Mortification Is a Good Thing
01:01 Which of Your Two Selves Needs to Die?
01:29 Death Concentrates the Mind
01:56 Flannery O'Connor & A Good Man Is Hard to Find
02:52 Meet the Grandmother
03:37 The Misfit
04:08 A Strange Moment of Grace
04:37 “You're One of My Children”
04:59 What Facing Death Did to Her
05:23 What Needs to Die in Me?
05:58 Romans 8: Put It to Death and Live
06:21 Psalm 51 & David's Sin
06:54 Our Sin Isn't Always Before Us
07:17 Create in Me a Pure Heart
07:43 Mortification Isn't Misery
08:05 The Life of the Spirit
08:31 Your Two Selves
08:51 The Valuing Self
09:17 To Mortify Is to Liberate
09:25 Freedom From Destructive Desires
10:10 Addiction, Resentment & Approval
10:44 What Real Freedom Looks Like
11:15 A Good Day to Die
11:38 Practice One Small Act of Mortification
11:58 Don't Do One Thing You Want to Do
12:24 He Will Make You Free