What About You?

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.  Matthew 16:24
 
Self-denial is a subject that most of us do not like to talk about very often.  It involves an element of suffering and pain for our flesh.  When you set your heart to follow God, one of the biggest tricks of the enemy is to cause you to think “what about me?”  The thoughts you may have may go like this, “How will I survive financially if I pursue God and go into ministry, will I have enough to live on if I give this money to someone, or what about my happiness if I decide to wholeheartedly follow God.”  God will never ask you to do something that He has not already given you the ability to perform.  Also, God will give you the desire to do what He wants you to do.  Notice that Paul said that “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).  The Bible is also clear that “whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:11).  If you believe God you will not be put to shame.  The only tool at Satan’s disposal is to lie to you that if you trust in God you will be put to shame and not provided for.  Remember though, that John 8:44 says that Satan is the father of lies.  Don’t be afraid to follow the vision and dreams that God has breathed into your heart.  You will come out just fine!