Daily We Take Up the Cross

Billy Graham once said, “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”


Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Daily we need to take up our cross. Daily we need to die to self (1 Corinthians 15:31). Being a Christian is not a one-time sinner’s prayer. It’s not even simply going to church. A great tragedy in the church are the sleepers. The people who claim to be Christians, who claim to know the Lord and aren’t transformed by Him. They aren’t living for Him and aren’t surrendered to Him. I have gone through a period of time like this and I remember feeling so lost and unfulfilled. If that is you today, if you’ve fallen into a complacent space spiritually, let me offer you the hope that it is never too late. In the same vein, taking up your cross today isn’t a decision reliant on how you spent yesterday. Salvation is worked out daily and God’s grace and mercies are new every morning. It’s a daily decision to take up the cross. What does that mean? That means laying down our selfish desires, our lives, to follow Him. It’s a total surrender of our lives and our hearts to Him.


I would challenge you this week to pray each morning when you wake up and offer your day to the Lord and take up the cross in full surrender.


Prayer:


“Lord, I give you my day today. I place my plans in your hands. Guide all my steps. Help me to be Your hands and feet today. Break my heart for what breaks yours, and give me eyes to see what needs to be done in and for Your Kingdom today. Your will be done in each second of this day you have created and given me. Amen.”