For all of the times I have been in a diet, one would think denying myself would be easier. Of course, if that were true, I would have only ever needed to change my eating habits once and not have to start another diet. But, denial is difficult. It is not easy.
Jesus is clear. Following Him requires sacrifice and denial. The road we must take will put us against the world. We will constantly be presented with attractive options that promise life and fun but really just destroy us. The world wants us to be like it is and will lie about who God is.
When Jesus came to earth, He took on human form forever. He will never regain His heavenly body again. He sacrificed His essence in order that He might save us. His cross will be a part of Him for eternity. But, He carries it proudly and with joy because it opened heaven’s gates for us.
What happens is that our desires will change. The Holy Spirit will help us change our thoughts from the worldly to the spiritual. As we walk closer to Jesus, we find that denying ourselves becomes easier. We find our joy in spending time with Jesus. What we give up seems so trivial to all that we have gained.
Giving up worldly things becomes easier when we focus on all that Jesus is to us.
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