Deny Self

I haven’t blogged all month.  Yesterday, I caught a portion of Chuck Swindoll’s sermon about “Three Musts for the New Year.”  One of those “musts” is denying one’s self.  This got me to thinking – in what ways do I deny myself for Him?  I knew I had to blog about this because as I approach a new year, I want to be a true disciple. God’s Word is clear about denying self:

Matt. 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must (1) deny themselves and (2) take up their cross and (3) follow me.

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

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.

Mr. Swindoll said “a passionate desire to obey and please God is the beginning of true discipleship and starts with saying no to self.  Say no to what YOU want.  Mr. Swindoll reminded me that obeying Him means tasting death – death to something, to someone, that it means more than occasional unselfishness.  It means dying to something or someone everyday or He would not have said ‘daily.’

 
There are movies and programs I won’t watch, places I won’t go, stuff I won’t do.  BUT, I still think thoughts I shouldn’t think, say things I shouldn’t say, offend when I don’t mean to, laugh at stuff that’s not funny.  I have to deny myself thoughts and actions DAILY that are contrary to His Will and Word to be in complete obedience to Him as His true disciple.  You have to look at your life, your thoughts and actions – what is it you need to deny to be His true disciple?  I hope I’ve provoked your thinking about this.  Please hold me accountable in 2012.  Happy New Year!