The Gospel is beautiful. It’s not complicated. It’s simple, and ultimately life changing.

I can tell when my prayer life isn’t where it needs to be. I can tell when I haven’t been setting aside time like I should to truly be in the presence of Christ.

It’s more than the prayer before dinner.

It’s more than attending every church service.

It’s more than giving and serving others.

It’s taking up your own cross and following Him.

Every time I want control over a situation, every time I find myself putting my plans before Jesus, He isn’t honored in the outcome. Every time I spend intimate time in the word and prayer, trusting in His plan and knowing he’s in control, life just feels more at peace. Notice how I didn’t say “life just goes smoother” or “life is just better”. I purposely said life just feels more at peace. There is a beauty in coming to know Christ. There is a beauty in trusting in his plans before our own. There is a peace that surpasses all understanding when we take up our cross and follow him. We don’t have all the answers but you find yourself not wanting to because you’re too busy following the one who does.

I feel like I talk about that a lot. Trusting His ways and not my own. Maybe that’s where I fall short most. I want the plan I had on my calendar to go the way I envisioned it. Or maybe that’s just what someone needs to hear. To surrender your own personal agenda. Take up your cross and follow Him.

I love these words in Colossians –

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

Colossians 3:1-4 NLT

I don’t have control. I don’t have control of this afternoon, tomorrow, next week, or anything. But I do trust the one who does. Today I’m choosing to follow Him. Take up my own ways and listen to scripture. To set my sights on the realities of heaven. When I chose to follow Christ 17 years ago I had to remember I died to this worldly life. I was raised to follow him and to share all of His Glory. I want to be obedient. I fell short today. I’ll probably fall short again tomorrow. But He will strengthen me in those areas when I spend that intimate time with Him.

I challenge you to set your minds today not on things of this world but on things that are above. I pray today you join me in taking up your cross and following Him.