Taking Up Your Cross · NationShakershouse

Taking Up Your Cross

Taking up your cross brings all five words into practice: submit, yield, commit, humble, and deny. They describe the heart of a disciple; taking up your cross means living out that surrender, even when following Jesus costs you something.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23 (KJV):

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

For Jesus’ original listeners, the cross represented execution, shame, and suffering. His invitation calls for wholehearted allegiance—even at the cost of comfort, reputation, or life. It goes deeper than simply enduring everyday inconveniences.

1. Submit—Accept His authority.

Taking up your cross begins with accepting Jesus as Lord. You obey His direction even when it conflicts with your preferences.

“Lord, Your will has authority over my will.”

2. Yield—Make yourself available.

You present your body, words, choices, and abilities to God. Taking up your cross means allowing that surrender to shape what you actually do.

“Lord, I am available to obey You, even when it is uncomfortable.”

3. Commit—Entrust the outcome to Him.

Obedience does not guarantee immediate approval or relief. You trust God with the consequences of faithfully following Him. Jesus modeled this by entrusting Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

“Lord, I will obey and trust You with the outcome.”

4. Humble—Lay aside pride and status.

Pride insists on recognition and having the final word. Humility makes room for serving, receiving correction, and obeying God without applause. Philippians 2:8 connects Jesus’ humility directly with His obedience unto death on the cross.

“Lord, pleasing You matters more than protecting my image.”

5. Deny—Renounce self-rule.

Jesus places denying yourself immediately before taking up your cross. You refuse to let your desires become your highest authority. That can mean refusing revenge, turning from sin, or choosing faithfulness over convenience.

“Lord, my desires will not govern my obedience to You.”

The word “daily” makes this practical: surrender is an ongoing choice. For example, when someone speaks harshly to you, taking up your cross may mean refusing retaliation, speaking truth with grace, and trusting God with their response. It does not require remaining in abuse or abandoning appropriate boundaries.

We do not carry a cross to earn salvation; we take up our cross because we follow the Savior who gave Himself for us.

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Taking Up Your Cross