It all started with a niggling in my spirit. A dis-content. I was living for Jesus but somehow, it felt a bit hollow; like I was missing something. And as it turns out, I was. I was missing out on the fullness of life that Jesus came to give me. I loved Him but, the truth is, I loved myself more. I was trying to follow Him, but I did so at a distance. I was afraid to get too close to Him for fear of losing who I was. 

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Boy, did I have it wrong.

 

See, scripture is very clear. If we want to follow Jesus, we must follow in the way of the cross. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The way of the cross leads to death. But even more than that, the way of the cross leads to life; the fullness of life in Christ Jesus.

 

Matthew 16:24-26 The Message

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

 

What Jesus is saying here is that, following in His footsteps, following His way, is the only way to finding yourself; your TRUE self. Self help, is no help at all. It’s nothing and it leads to nothing. Self sacrifice, however, leads to finding yourself.​ My true self, and YOUR true self, can only be found in following the way of the cross.

 

Beloved, Jesus has a plan and a purpose for you. A good plan. A wonderful plan. His plan for you, from before the beginning of time, was that you lead a purpose driven life. A life filled with joy and wonder and satisfaction. A life that points entirely to Jesus. This is the only way to experience the fullness of life that Jesus came to give you. But the only way to experience this full life, is through the taking up of your cross. 

 

Jesus Christ is so in love you. You are the apple of His eye. You are the reason He came to this earth, and walked the road that ultimately led to His death. He wants you. He wants all of you. With nothing held back. He wants you to put aside any kind of desire that keeps you before Him. He wants you to follow in His footsteps. He wants to help you find your TRUE self as you follow the way of the cross, and to live a life of extraordinary fullness!

 

My hope is that, through these pages, I might encourage you as you discover the joy of what it means to deny yourself and take up your cross to follow Jesus. Together, we will become an army of barefoot warriors wreaking havoc for His Kingdom!