Take Up Your Cross - Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional

Surrendering Your Life to Christ and Trusting His Guidance

Luke 9:23 (KJV)
“And he (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

When you choose to follow Jesus, you will have everything in the world set itself against you and use every possible means to pull you away from your commitment to Him. But take heart—Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Putting Jesus first in your life, even above yourself, will bring chaos. Things may quickly seem to spiral out of control. The reason for this is the conflict between the flesh within you and the call of Christ, which the Holy Spirit facilitates. The flesh and the Holy Spirit conflict, but remember: when you make Jesus your Lord and Savior and surrender your life to Him, everything changes. Your speech, thoughts, and actions will reflect your new life in Him. This is the Holy Spirit guiding you in a new direction and producing you to be Christ-like.

This transformation isn’t all at once; it’s a continual process. As you walk in faith, you’ll find yourself repenting, seeking God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit, and striving to live according to His will. Taking up your cross daily means choosing His path over your own, even when the journey seems complicated. Trust that He is with you and will lead you through every trial. There is nothing you cannot overcome. As followers of Christ, we are victorious in all things.

As Christians, we must always focus on Jesus and let nothing interfere with our relationship with him. Completely surrender everything to him and know that he is in charge of our lives and is forever faithful to us, and when have. Jesus, as our foundation, we cannot and will not be moved.

Reflective Questions

    1 What does it mean to you to “take up your cross daily” and follow Jesus?
    2.    In what ways have you experienced the conflict between your flesh and the Holy Spirit?
    3.    Are there areas of your life you haven’t fully surrendered to Jesus? How can you take a step toward surrender today?
    4.    How has the Holy Spirit guided your journey to become more Christ-like?
    5.    What promises from God encourage you when the journey feels complicated or overwhelming?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come before you in Jesus’ name, and I desire to be a reflection of your Son and represent him in everything I do. I ask that the Holy Spirit guide and direct me in my daily activities. I want to put my flesh aside and be filled with the Holy Spirit. I ask this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.