“Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” - 1 John 2:6

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

Am I surrendering everything to Jesus?

Physical | Mental | Emotional | Spiritual

To surrender to Jesus means to fully yield and submit your life to Him as your Lord and Savior. It involves recognizing your need for His forgiveness and salvation, and willingly giving Him control over every aspect of your life. Surrendering to Jesus requires humility, faith, and a desire to follow His teachings and example. It means letting go of your own will and desires, and embracing His perfect plan for your life. When you surrender to Jesus, you invite Him to transform your heart and guide your decisions. You trust in His wisdom and guidance, knowing that He has the power to lead you to a life of purpose, peace, and eternal significance. Surrendering to Jesus is a daily choice, as you continue to seek His presence, depend on His grace, and align your life with His divine will.

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

What do I need to confess in order to cultivate a clean heart?

Confession to Jesus is the act of honestly and openly acknowledging our sins, mistakes, and shortcomings before Him. It involves approaching Jesus with a contrite heart, admitting the ways in which we have fallen short of His perfect standards. Confession is not about hiding or denying our wrongdoings but humbly bringing them before Jesus, seeking His forgiveness and cleansing. When we confess our sins to Jesus, we demonstrate our trust in His mercy and grace, knowing that He is faithful to forgive us and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Confession also allows us to experience the freedom and liberation that come from being honest with ourselves and with our Savior. Through confession, we invite Jesus to work in our lives, transforming us from the inside out and empowering us to live according to His will. It is an ongoing practice for every believer, as we strive to grow in holiness and draw closer to Jesus each day.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24

What is God speaking to me?

Scripture | Dreams | Visions | Prophecy

Listening to Jesus is an essential aspect of our faith and relationship with Him. It involves attentively hearing and receiving His words, teachings, and guidance as revealed in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit. To listen to Jesus, we must cultivate a heart of humility and openness, recognizing that His wisdom and understanding surpass our own. It requires setting aside our own agendas, distractions, and noise of the world to intentionally seek His voice. Listening to Jesus involves spending time in prayer, studying His Word, and being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It also requires a willingness to obey His teachings and follow His commands. When we listen to Jesus, we gain direction, wisdom, and discernment for our lives. We receive comfort, encouragement, and correction. By actively listening to Jesus, we align our hearts and minds with His will, allowing Him to guide and shape our thoughts, decisions, and actions. Ultimately, listening to Jesus deepens our intimacy with Him and leads us to a life that is centered on His purposes and Kingdom.

let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
Whoever has ears, let them hear.
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
Therefore confess your sins to each Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding
Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

How am I responding to what He is speaking?

Responding to Jesus is the natural and necessary next step after hearing His voice and receiving His teachings. It involves taking action based on His words and instructions. When we respond to Jesus, we demonstrate our faith and obedience to Him, putting His teachings into practice in our daily lives. It requires a willingness to surrender our will and desires to His lordship and to align our actions with His principles. Responding to Jesus may involve making changes in our behavior, attitudes, and priorities to be more in line with His example. It can also include acts of service, compassion, and love towards others, as Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Moreover, responding to Jesus means embracing His invitation to enter into a personal relationship with Him, accepting His gift of salvation, and allowing His transformative power to work in our lives. Ultimately, our response to Jesus should be marked by wholehearted devotion and a desire to glorify Him in everything we do.

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today;
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
If you love me, keep my commands.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

Who can I tell about what God has done in me?

Sharing Jesus is a vital aspect of our faith and mission as His followers. It involves spreading the good news of salvation and the love of Christ to others, both through our words and actions. Sharing Jesus begins with a genuine love and compassion for people, recognizing their spiritual needs and the eternal significance of knowing Him. It requires being intentional and bold in sharing the truth of who Jesus is, His sacrificial death and resurrection, and the hope and transformation that He offers. We can share Jesus by sharing our personal testimonies of how He has impacted our lives, by explaining the gospel message, or by simply demonstrating His love through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion. It is important to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and to approach sharing Jesus with humility, respect, and understanding. Our aim in sharing Jesus is to point others to Him as the source of true life, forgiveness, and eternal salvation. Through our witness, we can play a part in bringing others into a life-changing relationship with Him.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”