Christians are called to a level of faith in Jesus that empowers them to relinquish all their rights to God. Press on! Discipleship is daily learning to freely relinquish your free will to the living, resurrected Jesus.

A casual decision to follow Jesus isn’t enough. Ask God to give you a burning, never-ending, deep desire to follow and obey Him.

True Christ-followers are no longer the center of their own life. They have relinquished that position to the risen Jesus. It’s essential that we relinquish the initiative and motivation in our life from our own will and desires to the prompting and direction of the risen Jesus.

For me the biggest battle in being a Christ-follower is trying to keep myself and my desires from interfering with God’s way. Being a Christ-follower requires that I relinquish the right to run my own life.

As humans we have the freedom to rebel against our Creator, but we don’t have the right to. People unwilling to be perceived as a fool for Christ resist His will when it doesn’t, please them or make them look good. When we relinquish our attachment to our self-image, we can bask in the glorious adoration of the risen Jesus.

When we let the thunder of God’s judgment cause us to relinquish our rebellion and to align with His will, we begin to hear His melodious peace resounding in our heart. If we won’t surrender the control of our life to Jesus, we’re trusting in our own feelings, desires and opinions instead of Jesus.

We can’t experience Christ’s Headship until we relinquish our headship. Too often a gathering of the body of Christ is like a chicken with its head cut off–disconnected from the active control of its Head, the living Jesus.

Here’s why I write. Words unwritten will never be read, but written words can inspire people till the end of time. Your insights matter. Write now. I’ve been encouraged and discipled by hundreds of Christ-followers who lived before I was born. I’m so glad they wrote for me!

Instead of being seen as religious heroes and celebrities, the early Christ-followers were seen as agitators and troublemakers. Beyond words, beyond comprehension, beyond human effort, beyond despair, beyond blame, beyond self-interest, with peace and trust in You, Lord, help me like John the Baptist, Elijah, and so many other of your servants, decrease so You can increase.

It doesn’t require
Great intelligence
To relinquish denial
Of the elephants
Hiding in your life.
It takes courage,
Honesty and humility.