Deny Yourself

As I read the Day 5 devotional thought this morning, a brief phrase of a verse I'm very familiar with (it was the foundational verse of the youth ministry I lead in Fort Worth for 5 years) jumped out at me.  Jesus' words from Matthew 16:24:

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

 The first step of a disciple is a step away from self--it is a step of self-denial.  However, much of our lifestyle as western Christians (as much as we'd like to believe otherwise) involves subtle steps toward self.  We want our worship to be comfortable, in our preferred style, we want to schedule our Christianity so that it does not interfere with our "lives", we tailor our spending habits to perpetuate ease of living, and we cordon off our relationships so they do not intrude and bring with them the risk of change.

God is calling me, calling us, to take daily steps away from self.  Self-denial is the fertile ground from which justice and mercy spring forth.  What are the "first steps" of self-denial that God is calling you to take?