As empty-nesters, my husband and I are able to keep a pretty orderly house. But when our grandchildren were young and they lived close by, their visits changed all of that. They were sweet little whirlwinds of disorder, cookie crumbs, and skinned knees. Life would have been easier if they didn't visit, but oh, so much less meaningful!
Worthwhile things in life almost always involve time, effort, and self-denial.
Our culture encourages us to satisfy our selfish desires. Christ asks us to deny them:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).
We win when we “lose.”
That's the beauty of everything God asks us to do—we are always blessed through obedience, and God's ways truly make our lives more worthwhile (John 10:10)!
Self-denial is important to our faith and well-being. It's a "habit" that Christians must develop if we want to mature in our faith.
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For additional insights, I encourage you to read this one-minute devotion: We Need It: Self-Denial.
If you've purchased Wisdom for Life, you might want to read or reread Day 23 because it talks about the self-denial of persecuted Christians.
If you haven't purchased Wisdom for Life, check out the sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.
Bible Love Notes
Thank you Gail! Timely as always.
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