What does the Bible say about denying oneself to follow Jesus?

In Luke 9:23, Jesus instructs that if anyone desires to follow Him, they must 'deny themselves and take up their cross daily.' This call emphasizes the necessity of self-denial as a fundamental aspect of discipleship. Followers of Christ are called to relinquish personal ambitions, desires, and the drive of the flesh in order to embrace the path of suffering and sacrifice that Jesus exemplified. It highlights the reality that true discipleship often requires enduring hardships and abandoning worldly pursuits for the sake of following Christ wholeheartedly.