Denying Self to Find Life

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  

Reading: Luke 9:23-25

Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.

Jesus' invitation to "deny yourself" sounds counterintuitive in our self-focused culture. Yet this denial isn't about self-hatred—it's about releasing the illusion of control. When we cling to our own plans, preferences, and desires as ultimate, we miss the abundant life Christ offers. Denying yourself means acknowledging that God knows you better than you know yourself, loves you more than you love yourself, and has wisdom beyond your understanding. Today, identify one area where you're holding tightly to control. What would it look like to surrender that to Jesus? Remember, the cross wasn't about weakness—it was about trusting the Father's plan completely. True life begins when we stop trying to save ourselves.

What desire, goal, or preference are you most afraid to surrender to God?

Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…  

1. Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).  
2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: “Jesus, You surrendered everything to the Father’s will. Show me where I’m still clinging to control. Help me trust that Your plans for me are better than anything I could create for myself.”
   
3. Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.  

Faith Steps:

1. Identify one specific area of your life (plans, relationships, career, finances, etc.) that you’ve been trying to control. Surrender it to God in prayer and intentionally release it to Him today.
   
   
2. Practice daily surrender by starting your day with this simple prayer: “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done today.”