Then he [Jesus] said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for you to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit your very self?" (Luke 9:23-25 TNIV).

The apostle Paul called us to do the same basic thing when he wrote:

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 true worship (Romans 12:1).

God asks us to clean out that soil of weeds and thistles.

Rather than give up our control, we'd prefer to remain ourselves, to do things our own way, and to be driven by our own ego. Unfortunately, that's the very thing that Christ warns against because we are so often "centered in on" the very things that will destroy us.

Like the frustrated farmer, our soil is full of thistles and weeds. To battle against these thistles and weeds, we often try and keep them cut short. But, if we want to produce good, pure wheat, we have to plow up the field, pull out the thistles, and let the freeze kill the roots of the weeds, so that the real desired crop can grow.

Jesus plows deep into our souls so God's goodness can flourish in the rich and fertile soil of our lives. God asks us to clean out that soil of weeds and thistles and let him cultivate his character in our lives. But for this to happen, we have to let him have control!

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you (Hosea 10:12).

Cinderella - The Love of a Daddy and His Princess by Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman reminds dads to enjoy the everyday moments with their daughters. They will soon be gone.

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