Doing hard things is an essential part of life. In the category of ridding all selfishness as an act of doing hard things for Christ, there is a point to be made. Self-denial is very different from the "denying of self" that Jesus preached. He said to take up your cross as a way of denying yourself. Self-denial on the other hand, could apply to any discipline: sports training, dieting, studying, even becoming something as awesome as a monk! However, all these things still involve or can involve selfishness. God doesn't want us to do hard things on humanity's standards, He wants us to do hard things on His standards, which usually involve doing things that both make you uncomfortable and don't seem to have any earthly or immediate reward.
This is a great story that spoke to me, one that you might have heard, but it was also relayed well in this article. I know from experience (though nothing like this woman's example...yet) how awesome (in the true use of the word) it is when you find yourself doing scary things for Christ and he strengthens you for it. It doesn't even need to feel encouraging or un-akward once you're through enacting God's calling, but as long as you do what you know He is leading you to, that's enough.
"I prayed… ‘Lord! Tell me when!’ At that moment I saw a figure of Christ on the cross some distance away. I stood up." ~Christine Weick
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