Follow Jesus!

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

 

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

 

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow You, wherever You may lead me.

 

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes, not my own selfish ways.

 

Give me a sacrificial heart—one that is willing to deny myself—and give me hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

 

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth but rather demonstrate my love and my gratitude for You, by obeying Your Word and following Your example—for Your glory, honor and praise.

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow You, wherever You may lead me.

 

I pray these things in Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

To Take Up My Cross Daily

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

 

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

 

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes and not my own.

 

Give me a heart that is willing to deny myself in order to accomplish the all that You have placed before me to do—and hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

 

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth, but rather demonstrate my love for You, and my gratitude for all that You have done for me, by truly living my life—moment by moment—for Your glory, honor and praise.

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Take Up Your Cross Daily and Follow

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes and not my own.

Give me a heart that is willing to deny myself in order to accomplish the all that You have placed before me to do—and hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth, but rather demonstrate my love for You, and my gratitude for all that You have done for me, by truly living my life—moment by moment—for Your glory, honor and praise.

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Be a Follower of Christ

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me, that I might represent Him well.

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes and not my own.

Give me a heart that is willing to deny myself in order to accomplish that which has been placed before me to do—and hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth, but rather demonstrate my love and gratitude for all that You have done for me, by truly living out my life—moment by moment—for Your glory, honor and praise.

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me, that I might represent Him well.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Be the Light of the World

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” 

—Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) 

Heavenly Father,

In Your Word, You have called us (the followers of Jesus Christ) “the light of the world”—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden, like a lamp designed and purposed to give light to everyone in the house.  May the good deeds I do shine out for all to see—in such a way that You alone will get the praise!

Make me keenly aware that—if I am truly a follower of Jesus—the things I say and do cannot be hidden, but will be seen by those around me.  Let it be that the light that I am would be fueled by the power of the presence of Christ within me.

As “the light of the world,” help me to embrace the opportunity that You give me to give light to everyone around me—rather than foolishly try to hide the amazing goodness of the treasure that lives in me by Your Holy Spirit.

And may any words or acts of goodness I offer to others—any patience, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, or grace I give, any truth I gently offer—be motivated by the love of Christ and bring praise to You, and You alone.

In Your Word, You have called us (the followers of Jesus Christ) “the light of the world”—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden, like a lamp designed and purposed to give light to everyone in the house.  May the good deeds I do shine out for all to see—in such a way that You alone will get the praise!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.