Self-Denial: Laying Down Your Will for God's Purposes
A voluntary, ongoing surrender of our own will and desires, so that God's purposes — not our own — are outworked in our daily lives.
What Self-Denial Means
Self-denial is laying down our will and desires to pursue God's purposes. It is similar to self-sacrifice – that is, selflessness, or giving up our own interests to help others. It is only as we die to the 'old self' and all that is wrong that we can live for Him, and His life will be outworked in us.
There is always a choice involved
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself…” – this is putting God and His Kingdom first (Mt 6:33; Lk 9:23-25). This is an unreserved and unashamed demand of Christ to us; He gave His all for us that we in turn might give Him our all, and it is the outworking of the greatest command to love God (Mk 12:30). Not only does it mean making choices that are contrary to the selfish, inner nature, but having the determination and motivation to deny their demands in an on-going, uncompromising stance.
Living It Out: Discipline, Care and Freedom
Denying self involves the habit of self-discipline and the choices of self-control as we forgo our own desires so we can do God's will and grow spiritually (Mt 26:42; Jn 3:30; 2 Pet 1:5-6).
Being voluntary in nature, self-denial applies only to personal rights but not to responsibilities
Sometimes it is deliberately going without things (such as food when fasting), yet it is never abusing or harming the body, which is a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We are to manage and care for our bodies, keeping them under control and submissive to our spirit and soul (1 Cor 3:16-17; 9:27).
Self-denial is not a morbid, fatalistic attitude but a liberating mindset that loosens the hold of this world's values, for Jesus said, “A person's life does not consist in the abundance of their possessions” – a relationship with Him is the most important thing (Lk 12:15; Jn 17:3). It is an emptying of ourselves of all but love, being outward focused towards those in need (Jn 15:13). It requires sacrificial service, loving the hard to love, spending and being spent for the cause of Christ, loving our neighbour as ourself – and the list goes on.
Reflection and Application:
- Identify one personal right you can willingly lay aside this week for the benefit of someone else.
- Fast from something (food, media or spending) and redirect the time or resources towards God's purposes.
- When a selfish demand arises, pause and deliberately choose God's will instead (Lk 9:23).
- Care for your body as the Holy Spirit's dwelling place, keeping it under control without harming it.