The true Gospel
You don't rely on your strength. You don't strive for God. We are weak and if we rely on our own strength we get exhausted and burn out. (Isaiah 40:29-31)(2 Corinthians 12:9)
This can lead us to want to give up entirely. It has nothing to do with performance. We aren't earning Salvation. We already have it once we believe in Christ because of what he did on the cross by taking our place. (Ephesians 2:8-9)(Titus 3:5)
That's why when we mess up there isn't supposed to be any shame or guilt since we are declared righteous. It's called our justification. When we mess up we just ask forgiveness and get right back up and press on. (Romans 5:1, 8:1)(1 John 1:9)(Proverbs 24:16)
He wants us to deny ourselves.(empty ourselves) To lose our life so that we gain it in the after life. (Luke 9:23-24)
The best way we do this is to put others above us. To put away our own feelings and put theirs above ours. This is true divine love and it is the best way to destroy (crucify) the old person in us. (Philippians 2:3)(1 Corinthians 10:24)(Galatians 5:13-14)
When we do this (mind over matter) the Spirit works in us because we didn't let our pride or ego get in the way of love. We emptied ourselves so the Spirit could fill us and transform us into Christ image from glory to glory. (Galatians 2:20)(2 Corinthians 3:18)