Good morning. It’s Sunday, January 21st, aka National Hugging Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

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— Luke 9:23

I’m sure you’ve heard of this verse before.

Luke 9:23 says:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

The verse can sound kind of extreme at first. Deny yourself. Take up your cross daily. That’s why everyone remembers it, and why it’s worth understanding what Jesus actually meant.

So what does this mean?

Think of your life like a car. Most of us want Jesus in the car with us, but we still want to drive. That’s basically why the phrase “Jesus, take the wheel” became a thing. To deny yourself means getting out of the driver’s seat. You’re no longer deciding where to go or how fast. Jesus is.

Let’s look at the verses before and after for context, so we can better understand what Jesus is trying to say.

Luke 9:22 says:

“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

This is Jesus explaining what His road looks like first. Before He asks anyone to give up control, He tells them He’s about to suffer and die. He’s not asking His followers to take a path He won’t take Himself. That’s what gives Luke 9:23 its weight.

Luke 9:24 says:

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

This is Jesus explaining why surrender isn’t a loss. Holding tightly to control feels safer, like keeping your hands on the wheel, but it actually leads you nowhere. Letting go feels risky, but it’s how you finally find real life.

So what does the rest of the Bible say about this?

It says the same thing in different ways. Jesus talks about a seed that has to be buried before it can grow. Paul talks about his old self dying so a new life can begin. Over and over, Scripture shows this pattern. You don’t find real life by holding on tighter. You find it by letting go and trusting God with the direction.

So what does Luke 9:23 really mean?

Here’s the simple way to think about it. The question isn’t whether Jesus is in your life. It’s who’s driving.

So maybe the takeaway is simply this: let Jesus take the wheel more often.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Jesus, You are worthy of my trust, even when following You feels costly.

Confession: I admit I like control and often put my comfort first.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for giving up Your life so I could truly live.

Supplication: Help me choose surrender today and follow You one step at a time.

In Jesus name, Amen

“So So Good” by Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, & Elevation Worship

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God