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A Morning View Near the Patio

In my daily struggle striving to live as a child of the Living God I am constantly reminded from Matthew 16:24-26 that when I get up each day the I need to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus. This passage also asks the question, "What if I gain the whole world and lose my soul?"
Maybe I am crazy, but the more I read, learn and experience this Jesus in my life, the less I worry and depend upon myself. I just desire to get better each day denying myself and following Jesus. Why would I be so arrogant to think that I would not have difficult, even devastating times in my life just because I am a Christian? I do not always get it right, and I know there are steps on my journey to take action moving forward, but do I deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus FIRST?
I have been struggling to write for the past hour and a half. I do not have any cute illustrations or puppy dog stories to tell. There is nothing coming to my heart to share other than feeling like a prophet and calling all of us out to step up and deny ourselves, our selfish ambitions, our arrogance of privilege and take up our cross and follow Jesus.
I have two more verses to share. But before I end with them, I ask you to seek God first today. Please do not try to find something you do not agree with or debate the world, but seek God, deny yourself and really follow Jesus.
May God speak to our selfish hearts of stone.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”   - Matthew 6:24
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” - Matthew 6:34
Peace,
PB

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