7/10/25 The Call to Deny Ourselves

Takeaway: True discipleship begins with daily self-denial so that we gain the fullness of life in Christ.

Opening Prayer (Thursday)

Lord, I thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness. No matter what today brings, help me to have a heart of gratitude and trust in Your perfect plan. Speak to me through Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

In a culture built around self-fulfillment, self-expression, and self-protection, Jesus’ call to deny ourselves can sound somewhat offensive. Yet these words are not a suggestion. They are at the very heart of discipleship. Jesus is not interested in simply being admired, followed from a distance, or slotted into our already-busy lives. He calls us to a path of surrender. “Deny yourself,” He says. Not once, but daily. Take up your cross, and lose your life. These are not metaphors to imply for a seasonal sacrifice.

To deny ourselves means more than just avoiding sin or giving up comfort. It means refusing to let one’s self have the final word in their life. Not allowing our preferences, agendas, fears, and need to control dictate how we live. The self wants to protect image, pursue ease, and prioritize our own desires over God’s. And, Jesus knows that if we are driven by self, we cannot truly follow Him. And this is not a one-time event. It is the daily work of discipleship.

This call to self-denial is not a path of misery, but of freedom. When we live for self, we’re never truly satisfied. And that’s because our egos are fragile. Yet, Jesus offers us a paradox: lose your life, and you will find it. When we surrender our will, we receive something better: God. When we surrender we allow space for God to occupy more of our life. And what is laid down in self-denial is far outweighed by what is gained in intimacy with Jesus.

This is not easy. Self-denial goes against every natural instinct we have. We want to be in control. We want to be comfortable. We want to win. But Jesus bids us come and die, because He loves us too much to leave us in bondage to ourselves. And so He invites us to follow, not by force, but in love. He leads the way by not asking anything of us He hasn’t done Himself. “Not my will, but Yours be done.” He took up His cross. He laid down His life so we might live.

Questions

In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to deny yourself?

How can Jesus’ example of surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane encourage you in your own journey?

Application

Take time this morning to pray a simple prayer of surrender: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Identify one area of self you sense God calling you to lay down. Choose one intentional act each day that says “yes” to Jesus and “no” to self.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, You did not cling to comfort, but surrendered fully to the Father out of love. Help me to follow You in the same way. Teach me to say no to myself so I can say yes to You. Lead me daily in the path of the cross, not out of duty, but out of deep love. I lay down my will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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