My Lord and God, I know that I cannot share in your resurrection 

    without also sharing in your death.  

Strengthen me to take up my cross and deny myself daily; 

    that I may crucify the drives within me that lure me away from loving you 

        and loving my neighbor as I ought.  

Silence the voices within me calling me 

    to self-indulgence, to self-service, and to self-advancement, 

 and let me hear only the voice of your Spirit 

    leading me into the ways of love, peace, and obedience.

 

I belong to you, Lord Jesus, 

    for you bought me at the price of your own blood.

Help me to live the rest of my life in this body for you,

    and not for my own desires or pleasures.

Make me a new creature who does your will.

 

David A. de Silva, Methodist professor

 

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Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.