27/06/2025
Are you longing for a deeper connection with God but arenât sure where to even begin?
In Luke 9:23, Jesus told His disciples, âWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.â His words must have seemed surprising at first. The disciples had already given up so much to follow Jesus.
Yet we find Jesus telling them the cost was going to be even higher than they had originally anticipated. The disciples werenât being asked to lay down some things. They would need to lay down everything.
And while it may sound like a lot to ask, because of their willingness to continue following hard after Jesus, they would get to experience a level of closeness with Him unlike anyone else.
Thatâs why Iâm so thankful Jesusâ invitation to the disciples in Luke 9:23 is for us too. We are also invited to be close. Which means we are also called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
Sometimes it means offering Him my willingness to step away from things like TV for a season. Fixing my eyes on Him first in the morning instead of my phone. Allowing Him to call me to a new level of discipline in my eating habits. Iâve offered up these things because I long for an ever closer walk with Him.
Letâs ask God how we need to deny ourselves to grow closer to Him, and then letâs do the hard and holy work. Because a deeper level of intimacy with Him will always be worth the cost.
You can read my full devotion for Proverbs 31 Ministries here: https://proverbs31.io/4l389RG