Self Denial as a Form of Discipleship

In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship, we read this:

…to deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all that self-denial can say is: He leads the way, keep close to Him … and take up His cross.

As I read and think on these words I can only conclude that I need to depend on Jesus for everything, even my ability to deny myself of anything! My nature is to abhor self denial, to always want my needs met above all else and yet our example Jesus Himself is the essence of self denial. Bonhoeffer truly hits the nail on the head when he says:

 He leads the way, keep close to Him … and take up His cross.