Discover Why Denying Yourself Is A Good Thing!Denying yourself and taking up your cross to follow Jesus! NeedEncouragement.com

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Denying yourself means saying no to something pleasurable to have something better for you in the long run, usually having to do with God’s will, not our own will. Yes, sin is pleasurable for a short season, but sin eventually leads to death. I have learned that in order to get what is good and what I want, I need to let go of temptations that are evil and draw me away from God.

 

While raising me kids, I told them that 40 lbs. of pain (doing homework, choirs, etc.) often turns into 400 lbs. of gain. (good grades, high school diploma, an allowance). To keep it real simple, we need to deny ourselves those momentary pleasure for what really satisfies our deep yearnings in life. Denying yourself is a way to grow closer to God. A general rule to follow is if something feels good to your flesh, make sure that it is not against God’s will for your life. Live as if you are not living for immediate gratification and separation from God but honor God and be with Him now and for eternity. ~ Bill Greguska

 

Luke 9:23  Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

 

 

 

What Is Denying Yourself And Pick Up My Cross Mean?

 

Denying Yourself Is The Start Of Something Good!

Realize that being a disciple of Jesus Christ means denying yourself and your sinful desires. The most challenging requirement of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is to deny yourself. We are all born with selfishness built right in us. It does not have to be taught, and resisting our natural desires is an ongoing battle. Denying self is key to being a follower of Jesus Christ. Read Romans 13:14. “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

 

 

Where Would We Be Without Denying Ourselves?

Some Specific Scriptures To Encourage You:

Matthew 10:32-33 ESV 

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 16:24 ESV 

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Philippians 1:23 ESV

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Romans 1:26-27 ESV 

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Matthew 26:34 ESV 

Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

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