Pastor Stephen Dedman

Then He (Jesus) said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What is one area of your life where Jesus is asking you to surrender your will to His?

Context
Jesus was teaching His disciples what it truly means to follow Him. Following Jesus was never presented as simply believing certain things, it meant surrendering our lives to Him. The cross represented sacrifice, obedience, and complete commitment.

Application
Jesus says we must do this daily. Every day brings choices between what we want and what Jesus wants. Denying ourselves means laying aside our own agenda, pride, comfort, and desires when they conflict with God’s will. Taking up our cross means willingly choosing obedience, even when it is difficult or inconvenient.

Following Jesus is not a one-time decision we make and then forget. It is a daily walk of surrender.

Truth For The Day
You cannot truly follow Jesus while insisting on always leading your own life. Following Him begins when we surrender our will to His.

Pray
Lord, help me deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You today. Give me the courage to surrender my plans, desires, and comfort to Your will. May my life demonstrate that I am truly following Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Would you still follow Jesus if He never answered the prayer you are currently praying?

Context
The crowd followed Jesus because they had seen what He could do. They had witnessed His power to heal, and they wanted to see more. But as this chapter unfolds, we discover that Jesus wanted to give them something greater than another miracle, He wanted them to recognize who He truly was.

Application
It is easy to follow Jesus because of what we hope He will do for us. We pray for healing, provision, direction, or a breakthrough. But Jesus calls us to follow Him not merely because of His blessings, but because He is the blessing.

Sometimes God may not give us the miracle we are asking for, but He will always give us Himself. His presence is greater than His provision, and knowing Him is greater than receiving from Him.

Truth For The Day
Jesus is worthy of following even when the miracle we want has not yet come.

Pray
Lord, help me to follow You because of who You are, not simply because of what You can do for me. Teach me to trust You even when I cannot see the miracle. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!”
‭‭Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What area of your life does God want you to stop and reconsider today?

Context
God gave this message to His people after they had returned from exile. They had built and improved their own houses while neglecting the temple. Life had become centered around their own priorities, and God called them to stop and examine the direction they were going.

Application
The phrase “consider your ways” is an invitation to pause and honestly evaluate our lives. Are we spending our time, energy, money, and attention on what matters most to God or simply pursuing what matters most to us?

Sometimes we become frustrated because life feels empty or unproductive, yet we have never stopped to ask whether our priorities are aligned with God’s purposes. Before asking God to change our circumstances, perhaps we need to allow Him to examine our direction.

Truth For The Day
A life going in the wrong direction doesn’t need more speed, it needs a change of direction.

Pray
Lord, help me honestly examine my ways. Show me where my priorities have drifted from You, and give me the courage to make the changes You desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.