Mark 8:34-38
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

deny themselves- how do I deny myself...? not what I want. not what I need. not what I desire. not what I think is best. not my plan.
take up their cross- to take something up you have to carry it. it probably isn't light. I don't think a cross would be easy to carry. kind of awkward. if I'm carrying a cross there is probably a lot I won't be able to do. what is my cross made of? what do I want it to be made of...?
follow me- seems like the easy one. there a billion ways to follow him. it's not easy. I deny Him and follow myself everyday. simply. follow Him.