Today I will spend time thinking about what sacrifice is not.
It is not an excuse to feel sorry for myself because of what I have to endure.

It is not an excuse to indulge myself in the sin of pride about how disciplined, righteous, or holy I have become.

It is not an opportunity to let slip how much I am giving up for God. Sacrifice without telling anyone except God is the Biblical model.

It is not an opening for resentment to set in. Sacrifice that is not "living" is, in the end, resented. Resentment leads to self-destructive behavior trying to let others know how much pain we are in or how much we want to hurt the object of our resentment.

Sacrifice is not in any way self-destructive. Self-destructive behavior can look like sacrifice, but in the end is either attention getting or an outlet for anger or both.

I must keep to the middle ground - avoiding the dangers that lie on either edge of the road that leads to transformation by renewal. My goal is healthy thinking, not sacrifice for any other reason.