It's easy to get trapped by the idea that living the Christian life is a matter of being good, or living a principle-centered life.  However, that is not even close to the core of Christianity.  The apostle Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, it is Christ who lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)  The Christian life always involves death and resurrection - His and ours.

The power of Jesus' life was demonstrated in His resurrection.  He was crucified as a payment for sin; He rose again in new life.  When we believe in Jesus, when we receive Him as our Savior - our payment for sin, we become identified with Him.  The principles and power of His death and resurrection to which Paul was referring become operable in our lives.  

Paul's identification with Christ involved his own death to self - to his self-referenced way of living.  No longer was he reliant upon his own resources or judgments; no longer did he enthrone his own desires; no longer was he self-absorbed.  That self-life was crucified when He began for follow Christ, and Jesus became his resource, perspective, object of worship and obsession.

This principle of death and resurrection can be most powerfully activated when we apply it specifically in our lives.  When Paul mentions the part of himself that no longer lives, he's referring to specific independent, rebellious, sinful aspects of his life.  Can you describe your own special brands of self-referenced living that surface when you are living faithlessly apart from God?  Do you become particularly anxious, worried, angry, vulgar, lustful, sexualized, mean-spirited, arrogant, fearful, blaming, deceitful, over-powering, numb, overly sensitive, impatient, lazy, indecisive, isolated, afraid to be alone, etc?  What are your warning signs that you are becoming faithless and self-referenced?  With God's help, take time to know yourself, even the dead and crucified aspects, so can turn from that which is lifeless.

On the other hand, what do you look like when you are living in faith in Christ?  What are the hopes that you have in Him - the vision He is giving you for yourself?  How does He generally use you?  What do you imagine He wants to do through you in particular?  When you live this way and/or in this direction, you are moving in faith.  This kind of living requires His help; you can't do it without the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.  He has plans and purposes for you that only He can accomplish through you.  Living in His love for you, and believing His purposes for you energizes you to "take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of you." (Philippians 3:12)  This is the real, tangible life of faith that God has for you.  Are you willing to let your self-referenced life be crucified with Christ, and to walk in the faith-filled purposes God has for you?