C.S. Lewis' Advice in a Letter

John 3:30 "He must become greater, I must become less."

In The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III
Compiled in Yours, Jack

C.S Lewis quotes John 3:30 and talks about this concept that John the Baptist was describing. In his letter he talks about the fact that this process will never be completed in our world. It can't be. The best we can hope for is to get a good start and get a little further along as the years go on. 

He also talks about the fact that we can't see this change taking place. We don't have a real clear perspective on ourselves, only God sees our heart. Have you ever listened to an audio recording of yourself? It doesn't sound like your voice does it? But others can identify it as you. It only sounds different because you're hearing your own voice as everyone else always does.

It's similar with our own hearts. We can be deceptive about our motives and intentions, we can even deceive ourselves. The only one we can't deceive is God. He always knows the truth. 

C.S. Lewis goes on in his letter to apparently answer a question to his friend. He says that as for what you can do about this concept of the Lord increasing as we decrease you can go on living your life and rejoicing in what God has given you. He references Philippians 4:4 at this point which reads "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice."

This is my favorite part in the letter. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to do everything just right. We think we have to force ourselves to complete some kind of ritual or be absolutely perfect in order to draw closer to the Lord but the fact is that it's just not true. That's why Jesus came, and why He ultimately ascended to heaven again, to give us the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us today. So that as we seek the Lord in our daily lives we draw closer to Him day by day. Rarely does it happen in epic leaps and bounds, rarely do we see the small, incremental changes taking place in us but He is working and we are changing, even if we don't realize it. So why not enjoy the process, the journey, and the blessings He's given us today. And as we enjoy those things, and we thank Him and praise Him for those things our hearts will change and we will begin to decrease as He increases. 

One last point, as C.S. Lewis finishes his letter he says something truly remarkable.

"As to your spiritual state, try my plan. I pray 'Lord, show me just show much (neither more nor less) about myself as I need for doing thy will now."

Now that is some incredible advice from a man who truly sought for the Lord to increase and himself to decrease.