He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34 (NRSV)

All that Jesus asks of me is total surrender of my life to His message. That’s a pretty tall order, isn’t it? I mean, c’mon – total surrender? I can’t even choose my own profession, my own spouse, my own home? I have to leave all these decisions to Him? Absolutely – and thanks be to God for that!

This passage is clear that in order to follow Jesus I need to give up my human desires for His will in my life. That means I look to Him when it is time for me to make decisions – about anything and everything. It also means that I will never walk alone. I will never have to face darkness by myself. I will never have to overcome trials on my own. I will never be abandoned in my time of need. And, most wonderfully, I will always have Someone who knows and feels the joys of my heart.

Jesus died to save my soul; I am most certainly willing to live for Him.