SELF-DENIAL: GOD'S PLAN FOR CHANGE

For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character.But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good, and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do.Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you.This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply.The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ.But anyone who fails to go after these additions to faith is blind indeed, or at least very shortsighted and has forgotten that God delivered him from the old life of sin so that now he can live a strong, good life for the Lord.So, dear brothers, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen, and then you will never stumble or fall away.And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-11 TLB