Following Jesus is not easy. In fact, following Jesus goes against the very desires of the flesh. It takes a supernatural spiritual change in our hearts for us to be able to walk in obedience to Jesus. The only way that happens is if we die to ourselves, and live out the desires of Jesus for our lives. To die to ourselves is not a one-time occurrence. It is a daily submission to be willing to say: “More of Jesus, less of me.” My prayer is that we don’t get too caught up in our own ambitions and comforts to the point where we lose sight of Jesus and miss the whole point. I hope that you choose today to search your heart and ask Jesus simply “what’s next?” Be encouraged to walk obediently in spirit and in truth! Pursue Jesus first and trust him to be the good and perfect provider He always has been.
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:34-38