Unshakeable DevotionalsSýnishorn

DENY YOURSELF, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, & FOLLOW

“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Have you ever made a sacrifice for someone—laid down your own desires for the sake of a relationship? Or trusted a person or situation, even when the outcome was uncertain?

In the story of Joshua, we see a man who was called to lead God’s people into the Promised Land, a task that required immense courage, trust, and sacrifice. God asked Joshua to follow Him in obedience, even when the path ahead seemed daunting and full of uncertainty. Joshua had to deny his own understanding and desires, choosing instead to follow God’s commands—whether it was marching around Jericho or trusting in God’s provision despite impossible odds.

Taking up our cross, as Jesus calls us to do, is not just about enduring hardship but choosing to follow God’s plan for us, just as Joshua did. Joshua’s obedience wasn’t based on his own comfort, but on the belief that God’s ways, even when difficult, were better than his own. In following God’s direction, Joshua experienced victory, but it came at the cost of his personal comfort and the surrender of his own plans.

Similarly, Jesus invites us to deny our own desires, to set aside our personal agendas, and to follow Him wherever He leads, just as Joshua followed God’s plan to lead Israel. We are called to pick up our own cross—our daily sacrifices—and trust that God’s reward, His presence and His kingdom, is worth the cost.

CHALLENGE:

What things currently hold the top spot in my life that sometimes cause changes in giving of my time and resources for God? Is it my kids? My spouse? My job? My house? How can my Christ-driven life better influence my other priorities?

PRAYER THOUGHT:

Pause and reflect on areas where God is calling you to surrender your own desires and follow Him. Ask Him to give you the strength to take up your cross daily, trusting that His presence and His plan are worth any sacrifice.