Besides their negative aspect of foregoing this or that, acts of self-denial can have a positive value in themselves.  For if they are offered as an expression of our love for God, they deepen our relationship with him.  We can see that easily enough if we consider the observance of Good Friday and it is also true of Lent as a whole.

The day on which Christ was crucified is spent by Christians not only in quiet thought and prayer, but also in abstinence from pleasures and in partaking sparingly of food.  We do so to show our sorrow for his sufferings and also our love for him who suffered for our sake – for love is most truly expressed by acts of self-sacrifice.  Thus by our simple acts of self-denial during Lent we seek to associate ourselves with the hardships which he so willingly bore for us, and in so doing be brought closer to him.

If undertaken as an annual formality, such acts of self-denial issue only in a barren self-satisfaction; but when inspired by a spirit of love and devotion they foster that generosity of soul towards God which is the special fruit of a well-kept Lent.

References

1. Knox, R. (1948) (Trans from Latin Vulgate) The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, London: Burns Oates and Washbourne Ltd.

2. Ovid (Metamorphoses 7:20-21).

3. Book of Common Prayer (1662) The Order for Morning Prayer: the Second Collect, for Peace.  Available from:
http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/book-of-common-prayer/the-order-for-morning-prayer.aspx (Accessed 20 January 2012) (Internet).