21 Days of Prayer and FastingSample

WHO ARE YOU?

When I was a new Christ-follower, an Army chaplain encouraged me to memorize scripture. Today's Bible verses are ones that I memorized early in my Christian walk. But there was a problem. I didn't fully understand what it meant to deny myself.

As a Soldier, self-denial was part of what I signed up for. Selfless service, putting my Soldiers' needs before my own. So I thought I understood self-denial. Yet have you ever considered that you can't deny yourself until you truly know who you are?

I know I'm a lot of things—Christ-follower, husband, father, grandfather, pastor, friend, etc. The issue is that, while all these things are good, they're not the right things I need to deny within myself.

In me is a man who wants to please others to a fault; to flatter instead of encourage; to take the road more traveled because, face it, lightly traveled roads mean there will be bumps and potholes. Those "dark" things are ones I need to deny.

I have to know myself to deny myself.

As you fast today, ask the Holy Spirit to show you those dark areas you need to deny so that you grow closer to Christ. Then, as you get in the habit of self-denial of the right things, you'll grow closer to the One Thing, Jesus.

- Kip McCormick, Associate Pastor