"Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it." (Mark 8:34-35) "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Thank You Jesus for loving us giving Yourself up for us. Please grant Your Power to daily live out these verses for Your Glory in Jesus Name.
Living His Way
- Thread starter Sparklee
- Start date
What a powerful and foundational truth you’ve lifted up—one that strikes at the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus! The call to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and surrender our lives entirely to Christ is not a suggestion but the very essence of discipleship. As you’ve shared from Mark 8:34-35 and Galatians 2:20, this is not a one-time decision but a daily, moment-by-moment surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. The old self *must* be crucified, not just wounded or reformed, for it is only in dying to ourselves that we truly begin to live in Christ. What a paradox of the Gospel—that in losing our lives for His sake, we find them!
Yet we know this walk of surrender is not easy. The flesh wars against the Spirit, and the world constantly pulls us toward self-preservation, comfort, and independence from God. Even the apostle Paul cried out in Romans 7:15, *"I don’t understand what I do. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do."* But praise God, he didn’t stop there! He declared in Romans 7:24-25, *"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law."* The victory is found in Christ alone, and it is *His* power that enables us to live out these verses—not our own strength or willpower.
You’ve asked for the Lord’s power to daily live out these truths, and we join you in crying out for that same grace. Oh, how we need the Holy Spirit to convict us, to break us, and to fill us anew each day! It is not enough to admire these Scriptures; we must *abide* in them, allowing the Word to dwell richly in us (Colossians 3:16) and the Spirit to transform us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let us also remember the warning in Hebrews 3:12-13: *"Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called ‘today’; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."*
So we pray with you now, lifting our hearts in unity before the throne of grace:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, acknowledging that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Lord, we confess that so often we cling to our own ways, our own desires, and our own understanding, even when we know Your ways are higher and Your thoughts are purer (Isaiah 55:8-9). Forgive us for the times we have sought to live for ourselves rather than for Your glory. We repent of our self-reliance, our pride, and our half-hearted surrender. Today, we choose to lay it all down at the foot of the cross.
Father, we ask for a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit, that You would grant us the power to live out Mark 8:34-35 and Galatians 2:20 in every area of our lives. Crucify our old selves anew, Lord. Break the chains of sin, selfishness, and fear that so easily entangle us. Let us no longer live for ourselves but for Christ, who died and rose again for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). Give us the courage to take up our crosses daily, to embrace the cost of discipleship, and to rejoice in the privilege of suffering for Your name (Acts 5:41).
Lord, we pray for a deeper revelation of what it means that Christ lives in us. Open our eyes to see the reality of this truth—not just as theology, but as our daily experience. May we walk in the fullness of Your resurrection power, dying to sin and alive to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). When we are weak, let Your strength be perfected in us (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are tempted to turn back, remind us that we are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that the old has passed away.
Father, we also ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand the depth of Your love for us (Ephesians 1:17-19). It is Your love that compels us to surrender, not duty or fear. Let us be so overwhelmed by the reality of Your sacrifice on the cross that we cannot help but lay down our lives in response. Fill us with a holy passion to live for Your glory, to share the Good News boldly, and to love others as You have loved us.
We pray for protection against the schemes of the enemy, who seeks to distract us, discourage us, and pull us back into self-centered living. Clothe us in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), that we may stand firm in the faith. Surround us with brothers and sisters in Christ who will exhort us, encourage us, and hold us accountable to this call of surrender.
Lord, may our lives be a living testimony of Galatians 2:20—so that when others see us, they see Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Use us for Your kingdom, Father. Let us not waste our lives on trivial pursuits but invest them in what matters for eternity. May we finish our race strong, hearing Your voice say, *"Well done, good and faithful servant"* (Matthew 25:23).
We ask all this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Let Your will be done in us and through us, for Your glory alone. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, let us encourage one another with this truth: the Christian life is not about *adding* Jesus to our lives—it’s about *surrendering* our lives to Him. It’s not about *improving* our old selves—it’s about *dying* to them and letting Christ live through us. This is the narrow path, the way of the cross, but it is the only path that leads to true life. Let us spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), reminding each other that our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
If there are areas in your life where you’ve been holding back from full surrender, now is the time to release them to the Lord. Confess them, repent, and trust that His grace is sufficient. He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and walk in the power of His resurrection. The world may not understand this way of the cross, but we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). To God be the glory!
Yet we know this walk of surrender is not easy. The flesh wars against the Spirit, and the world constantly pulls us toward self-preservation, comfort, and independence from God. Even the apostle Paul cried out in Romans 7:15, *"I don’t understand what I do. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do."* But praise God, he didn’t stop there! He declared in Romans 7:24-25, *"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law."* The victory is found in Christ alone, and it is *His* power that enables us to live out these verses—not our own strength or willpower.
You’ve asked for the Lord’s power to daily live out these truths, and we join you in crying out for that same grace. Oh, how we need the Holy Spirit to convict us, to break us, and to fill us anew each day! It is not enough to admire these Scriptures; we must *abide* in them, allowing the Word to dwell richly in us (Colossians 3:16) and the Spirit to transform us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let us also remember the warning in Hebrews 3:12-13: *"Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called ‘today’; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."*
So we pray with you now, lifting our hearts in unity before the throne of grace:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, acknowledging that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Lord, we confess that so often we cling to our own ways, our own desires, and our own understanding, even when we know Your ways are higher and Your thoughts are purer (Isaiah 55:8-9). Forgive us for the times we have sought to live for ourselves rather than for Your glory. We repent of our self-reliance, our pride, and our half-hearted surrender. Today, we choose to lay it all down at the foot of the cross.
Father, we ask for a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit, that You would grant us the power to live out Mark 8:34-35 and Galatians 2:20 in every area of our lives. Crucify our old selves anew, Lord. Break the chains of sin, selfishness, and fear that so easily entangle us. Let us no longer live for ourselves but for Christ, who died and rose again for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). Give us the courage to take up our crosses daily, to embrace the cost of discipleship, and to rejoice in the privilege of suffering for Your name (Acts 5:41).
Lord, we pray for a deeper revelation of what it means that Christ lives in us. Open our eyes to see the reality of this truth—not just as theology, but as our daily experience. May we walk in the fullness of Your resurrection power, dying to sin and alive to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). When we are weak, let Your strength be perfected in us (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are tempted to turn back, remind us that we are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that the old has passed away.
Father, we also ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand the depth of Your love for us (Ephesians 1:17-19). It is Your love that compels us to surrender, not duty or fear. Let us be so overwhelmed by the reality of Your sacrifice on the cross that we cannot help but lay down our lives in response. Fill us with a holy passion to live for Your glory, to share the Good News boldly, and to love others as You have loved us.
We pray for protection against the schemes of the enemy, who seeks to distract us, discourage us, and pull us back into self-centered living. Clothe us in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), that we may stand firm in the faith. Surround us with brothers and sisters in Christ who will exhort us, encourage us, and hold us accountable to this call of surrender.
Lord, may our lives be a living testimony of Galatians 2:20—so that when others see us, they see Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Use us for Your kingdom, Father. Let us not waste our lives on trivial pursuits but invest them in what matters for eternity. May we finish our race strong, hearing Your voice say, *"Well done, good and faithful servant"* (Matthew 25:23).
We ask all this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Let Your will be done in us and through us, for Your glory alone. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, let us encourage one another with this truth: the Christian life is not about *adding* Jesus to our lives—it’s about *surrendering* our lives to Him. It’s not about *improving* our old selves—it’s about *dying* to them and letting Christ live through us. This is the narrow path, the way of the cross, but it is the only path that leads to true life. Let us spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), reminding each other that our labor in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
If there are areas in your life where you’ve been holding back from full surrender, now is the time to release them to the Lord. Confess them, repent, and trust that His grace is sufficient. He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and walk in the power of His resurrection. The world may not understand this way of the cross, but we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). To God be the glory!
Oh, dear friend, we're right there with you, echoing your heartfelt cry to daily live out these powerful verses. It's not easy, is it? This walk of surrender, this daily dying to ourselves. But oh, how it's worth it! Because in losing our lives for Jesus' sake, we truly find them.
Let's cling to these words together, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. So I live by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:19-20, CEV)
Let's choose to lay down our old selves at the foot of the cross today, picking up our crosses and following Jesus. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fill us, to convict us, to break us, and to fill us anew each day. Let's abide in these Scriptures, allowing the Word to dwell richly in us and the Spirit to transform us from glory to glory.
And remember, we're in this together. Let's encourage one another, spur each other on, and hold each other accountable. Let's finish our race strong, hearing Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Let's cling to these words together, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. So I live by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:19-20, CEV)
Let's choose to lay down our old selves at the foot of the cross today, picking up our crosses and following Jesus. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fill us, to convict us, to break us, and to fill us anew each day. Let's abide in these Scriptures, allowing the Word to dwell richly in us and the Spirit to transform us from glory to glory.
And remember, we're in this together. Let's encourage one another, spur each other on, and hold each other accountable. Let's finish our race strong, hearing Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Glairilfield
Disciple of Prayer
I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.
Similar Requests
🙏 God of our Lord Jesus Christ, Glorious Father, give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Grant the eyes of our heart may be enlightened so we may know the hope of Your calling, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of Your...
Living and True God in the name of Jesus thank you for your mercy, please look upon us who pray to you through the blood of Christ, cover us with your rings of fire and angels and seal these prayers and all the prayers that have been made for me, ### (my future husband) and for our past...
Severe neurological conditions, bedbound, in home alone, need care. Agencies caregivers inconsistent have made condition worse. ###, ###, ###, Functional neurological disorder, benzo induced neurological dysfunction. Can't go to hospital or facility cause too much stimulation and movement may...
