Honest take

Why does God say to “deny ourselves?” And like is it really that deep?? 

Why is it “wrong” to do what I “want” if  “I’m not hurting anyone?”

I’m not doing “anything wrong.” 

^ These statements sound familiar?? Yeah they did for me too. 

Truly denying ourselves/what our flesh tells us we want is going to be a battle. We’re called to crucify our flesh; to lay down our life. 

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ 

He never said it’s going to be easy but He’s with us and we can rest on His strength and it’s out of love that leads us to repentance so we will generally want to follow His will, above our own.

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬ ‭

 

Why does He say this?? It’s because our hearts are actually wicked we’re born into sin. Meaning we were born into death, that’s something we all know is going to happen one day, that’s evidence of sin. We literally age because of sin. 

So as one can imagine, I had a hard time truly processing that, I always viewed myself as such a loving, amazing good person, like most of you probably have as well. Well that is not totally off BUT the FACT is there are NO good people there are just people who do good vs bad things in the standards of what the world deems as good vs evil which can we very true, there's very well easy ways to clearly separate the obvious morally good vs wrong but compared to Gods standards even the good is still dirty because of our sin. 

Which doesn't always feel great to hear but God mourns with us, the Truth hurts sometimes and isn't always easy to admit to ourselves or wrap our heads around but be still it's okay, He is there for us ALL and wants to take all that upon Himself and carry it for us and fill us instead with more of Him. 

God is not just some random guy or dictatorship He is sovereign, Holy, pure, righteousness, love and if it wasn't for His grace we wouldn't stand a chance or even understand what the "good" is that we've experienced and try our best to walk in. That's why we can still have all those awesome, good, moments it's because even if we don't know Him, we can still experience His Grace but it is pointless unless it's rooted in Him, i mean really what is temporary compared to eternal, nothing compares and nothing ever could. The best part when we are rooted in Him we become so much more than what we ever could on our own, we become righteous, Holy, pure and that amazing overflowing love, joy and light for others to see and get to experience that immeasurable radiant glow of the Holy Spirit, WOO HOO, we can do some much truly good and it's Godly because of Jesus, PRAISE GOD. 

This world will tell us to "follow our heart" "whatever makes you happy" it may seem great like it means well but truly it is a counterfeit "light" that leads us astray and into pride because we lean on our own understanding and what we think is best and can I be real, we lowkey become our own god. 

YIKES and when we do that we are bound to fall even if the world seems to not think so there's something deep within our own soul that is longing to be filled, so instead of receiving the freedom we chase emptiness that is temporary and always leaves us hungry and thirsty for more, it leaves us in bondage, chains and chasing after the next "high" or dopamine rush to try and fill a hole that nothing can fill but God. You don't realize until you allow Him in, when you get to the end of yourself.  We truly don't lose anything, this isn't punishment giving up all the facades, it is a blessing and leads to true eternal, overflowing real peace, love, hope, joy and guess what it's even more fun. "Don't knock it, unless you try it." for real, encounter Jesus, see what the hype is about, it's not some insane weird thing you have to do or like ceremony, no it's simply coming as you are and seeking your Father, Creator, the one who is love and the reason it exists and His love never ends, having the source of our love, come from the one who is the only reason it exists, pretty epic I mean how cool is that the Creator of the universe, galaxies, legit everything is our Dad, bro cmon that is the most epic superhero movie even marvel can't compete, lol. 

Truth is God gives us true life, forever meaning we never die, we are living in Heaven where there is no sorrow, no pain, no tears, and guess what we can have access to that right now to a certain degree because we are still in the flesh and this breath in our lungs means He is not done and we still have purpose here, it is a blessing to have life on this earth, it's okay to enjoy it to the extent that isn't allowing sin to reign (this can get very in depth so that can be a whole separate discussion.) and to take care of the blessings we have and spend time with loved ones, life is a beautiful thing and God knows it's not always an easy, He never promised it would be in fact He shares that in this world we will have trouble but take heart, He already overcame it. This concept to understand or figure everything out ??  He isn't asking us to do that, He actually commands us to Stop leaning on our own understanding and just trust in His character, because He never will break a promise, He will NOT go outside of His character because HE is that Holy, pure, Love and Truth,  there is no flaw, He surpasses perfection.

 Let me tell you God is good, God is so so so Good, you could just CRY in amazement at how loving, compassionate, He is like for instance all those amazing qualities we look for in others and try to build more and more of within ourselves right? Well they exist because of God, He is the source and get ready to experience those amazing, beautiful, song writing, soul changing things in ways, depths you never have before, so trust you're in better hands than all state haha but for real. 

When you surrender, you gain everything, the only thing you lose is all the sorrow, facades and emptiness that " __" brought in your life and you get filled, truly filled. 

It doesn't always feel the best at times but trust God always meets you and it always will be so so worth it, you will never regret giving things up to receive more of God. AND trust there are AMAZING FEEL GOOD HOLY HIGHS THAT NOTHING OF THIS WORLD CAN BRING. We follow Him because of who is not the amazing feelings that He only can  bring, but those are definitely a BLESSING, IT IS HIS PRESENCE THAT IS THAT.

So if you are tired of trying to fill something, work to find that thing you're searching for, you can rest in the fact you are known, wanted and so, loved by the only one who could ever fill that gap and who overflows it, forever. His name is Jesus Christ. 

Jeremiah 17:9 : “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

Romans 3:12  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Proverbs 3: 4-6: So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Revelation 21:4  : He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

John 16:33 : “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭

So moving forward, How do we go about doing this in the midst of the fact we may not want to, it can seriously be hard and heavy, what then? Well, this is what changes everything for us. Diving into Gods word and truly remembering the power of it. So in these times where it feels and may seem literally impossible, God will move and truly sometimes it is impossible for us and guess what? THAT IS OKAY. God is so rich in mercy and power that what is impossible for us to be capable to do on our own, it is possible for Him. 

He is more than able to move on our behalf all we have to do is REST, and lay down the burdens, sins, ego, pride, flesh, all the stuff that weighs heavy on us and wages a war on our soul, He will clean us up, pull us out, give us a brand new start, nothing is too much for our God, nothing is too heavy, nothing is too difficult and we are NOT too far gone or too deep in. 

Luke 18:27  :  Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.

Matthew 11: 28-30 : “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So, with all that in mind, we can trust that God will never allow us to be in a position where we can't overcome, truth is the battle has already been one, it is finished, the work on the Cross made a way for us to be set free from everything! One of my favorite verses in the New Testament states, in
 1 Corinthians 10:13 :  The only temptations that you have are the same temptations all people have but you can trust God, He will NOT let you be tempted with more than what you can bear, for when you are tempted He will give you a way to escape that temptation so you can endure it. 

Notice how it says "when" and "endure" God knows the fact it isn't easy, He understands and He knows what it feels like, He knows you better than anybody does, even yourself. He formed us, we are legit in the process of just coming back to His original design for us, it is a process but it's already been done, so just keep receiving and remember God never said we won't go through things, He doesn't say it's never gonna be there but He does say He gives us a way to ESCAPE meaning we are not prisoners, chained or in bondage to anything that tries to pull us out of our true identity which is righteous, pure, Holy, Made New. Not by anything we have ever done or even could do, we could never earn that but it is a gift from God and we are made in His image so our inheritance is Him and He dwells within us, making us able to have a relationship with Him, giving us access to Him, to the Fruit of His Spirit. LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF - CONTROL. - Galatians 5: 22-23.

I will leave you with this encouragement, Just say the name of Jesus, speak life, look up Johnny Chang, Bryce Crawford, Sadie Robertson Huff, Jennie Allen, Girls Gone Bible, Phillip Anthony Mitchell, Megan Ashley, Ally Yost, etc. Go into quiet time with the Lord, that is where our oil remains hot and we become more and more deeply connected, GET IN THE WORD. Start in John, The Gospels, Galatians, Proverbs, just read! Did you know the Word of God is active and alive. YES ALIVE. IT IS POWER. THAT IS SO COOL.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart

Get in Prayer, join a small group I recommend churches like, Eagle Brook, Redeeming Love, Truth and Freedom. Message me I would LOVE to talk to you about Jesus, answer any questions that I can and give you sound doctrine, that is IMPORTANT. All thanks to the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, not my own thoughts or feelings or biases but straight from the Word of God that you can even go dive in and make sure of, Truly I recommend just reading FIRST, SEEK GOD, there's nothing nobody else could teach, preach, sing, pray that God himself is not willing to pour into you, but community is truly something to be valued and should be brought into your life, we do this walk together, we are not alone. There is a FREE BIBLE APP on your phone that reads the words outloud for you, theres plans you can do, its fun, you can highlight and have fun, theres pretty pictures of the "Verse of the Day" messages and you can even have friends on the app and if you get it, add me, the link to it is in my linktree (where you came across this sight, where I really should spend more time writing i love it so much.) God just pours. maybe one day He will call me to write a book, who knows haha but if you get the app, we can do a plan together or or something maybe, just go get in that word friend, seriously go in the doubt, anger, confusion, whatever is keeping you from it, seek Him with that and just trust He isn't mad at you, He wants to LOVE ON YOU. 

Also, Jesus is not a religion, HE is the Way, Truth and Life. John 14:6   

He is for you, He desires a relationship with you, a part of this walk is Faith, we won't know everything that is Gods role, and that's okay He doesn't expect us to, let Him guide you, He is FOR YOU, He loves you more than anyone else ever could I PROMISE YOU THAT.  Jesus is the source of love. He won't let you down, life is hard at times yes but He is there with us in the storms and there always is peace, joy and His presence to rest and abide in during those times and trust no pain could ever compare to the joy ahead, pain isn't for nothing ( God is not the one causing it, its the enemy and sin, we have free will because God loves us, He wants our hearts not robots, our authenticity not performance.) Genesis 50:20 Says God will turn the bad, what was sent to destroy for good, to help others, it's just another part of our testimony but it's not our full story, He has amazing plans. Amen and BE blessed !!!! 

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by believing and not by seeing

last little note here: think about how valuable our souls must be that the enemy tries so hard to destroy what leads us close to the only one who can save, yet in the midst of our rebellion, when we were Gods enemy, He died for us, even knowing some would never choose HIm. Never go to Him, He still chose to die for every single human being. Regardless their love or devotion to Him, never changed His, His love isn't more on those who are close, He loves us all the same, God does NOT have favorites but He blesses obedience. So just walk with Him, Maybe pray and ask Jesus to show you how much He truly loves you and just listen, allow your heart to be moved, be safe, receive hope, peace, receive Jesus. Amen