March 31 | Luke 9:23
“Then He said to everyone, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, He must deny himself and take up His cross and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
We often don’t realize the cost of discipleship, of the following and learning from Jesus. Nobody likes , suffering, sacrifice and persecution. We dislike it so much the church in the West barely talks about sacrifice.
But Jesus tells you the opposite of what some pastors preach and teach. Part of His call to be His disciple demands you take up your cross every day to follow Him. You live a life of surrender and sacrifice. You can’t follow Jesus if you don’t sacrifice your own desires, goals, and agenda.
Living a surrendered life requires absolute faith in Jesus for everything. Your daily needs, desires, hopes, and fears rest on Him. David describes this relationship as the Shepherd who takes care of every sheep’s need.
When you lean on Jesus, you live life on a different level. You don’t have fears because you trust Jesus’s plan for your life. He can protect you from all danger. He wraps your fears in His long arms. You can give every area of your life to Jesus. Don’t compartmentalize your life and think Jesus is not watching. Give it all up to Him.
Action Step: Give your agenda, goals, and desires to Jesus today, and watch Him lead you where He wants you to go. Surrender your life today to Jesus’s will.
Lord Jesus, I want to walk where You want me to walk, to do what You want me to do, and to say what You want me to say. My life belongs to You. I surrender everything I am and have to You.
