Daily Fenelon > THE NATURE OF SELF-DENIAL
THE NATURE OF SELF-DENIAL
Self-denial has its place in a Christian's life, but God doesn't ask you to choose what is most painful to you. If you followed this path you would soon ruin your health, reputation, business, and friendship.
Self-denial consists of bearing patiently all those things that God allows to pass into your life. If you don't refuse anything that comes in God's order, you are tasting of the cross of Jesus Christ.
God gives you grace to bear the cross in your life just like He provides for your daily bread. He will never fail you! It is a good exercise for over-enthusiastic people to give up their own ways of practicing self-denial, and to allow God to bring whatever He will into their lives.
If you are not willing to accept the self-denials appointed by God, then don't trust the self-denials that you come up with. Examine what you are doing. Trust God to bring you what you need.
