how do you deny yourself

Handmaid for Jesus said:

Sonny I really don't have advice about denying yourself. These brothers and sisters have done such a good job sharing.But, when you talk about being hurt and withdrawing from socializing, I do understand that, and it was words from the Bible and from a friend who helped me. I had practically become a hermit. But a friend told me to get out of the house, go to church, go to ball games, just don't give your heart totally away, that is for God. Being a very giving person, that made no sense to me. Then I read this verse

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The NIV reads like this

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Heartache and pain causes breaks in relationships. There is a passage which says that Jesus did not trust himself to certain people because he knew what was in their hearts.

Once you have put the proper guards on your heart, then venture back out among people. And be very careful about who you allow to get close enough to hurt you. Be selective, like Jesus. And, I think you will find that you are a little bit more friendly and a little bit less unfriendly with a little less tendency to be hurt, or to hurt others. My mother said to me once when I was a teenager and one of my close friends had hurt me. She said some people have to be fed with a long handled spoon. That means, love them, speak and say hello, smile and treat them nice, but do not let them close enough to hurt you again. Get out of the house, go to church Sonny, but be selective in close friendships. Guard your heart.

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TRWord said:

This is the tough part. The scripture speaks of “they that are in the flesh.”

Rom. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Being in the flesh means that we are ruled by the needs of the flesh; “our body.”

To deny ourself means we have to deny the needs of “our body.”

We do this by engaging in periods of fasting and prayer when we deny the body completely.

You can begin with short periods and lengthen them as you grow.

Ash Wednesday is a couple of weeks away it marks the beginning of the season of Lent. I have founded this to be good time to do this.

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JESUSIAM said:

To willingly deny our own personal desires. To let go of selfish desires and earthly possessions. To follow Jesus at all cost even if it means death.

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vocalyocal said:

Its best to get the whole context of what Jesus was trying to convey, to do this you must read the passages ahead of that verse and following.

I believe Jesus was trying to convey that following Him could cost someone their life, that if it came down to it, losing your life because you followed Jesus would actually be saving your life, as in reward in heaven

yet also denying Christ to save your earthly life, you could lose your heavenly life, basically following Jesus would require giving up your life, and letting Jesus live it for you, as much as one could do this

as this is probably every Christians battle, to stop taking their life back from Christ

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