Matthew 16:21-27 NIV

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, 
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me;
you do not have in mind the concerns of God,
but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, 
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me. 
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,
but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world,
yet forfeit their soul?
Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

‭‭

Lord, give me the strength to follow You.
I admit it’s easier to do my own thing than to follow You.
Yet, I’m continually tempted to follow my way instead of Yours.
Guide me to look to You and trust that Your way
is always better than mine.
Following You takes great sacrifice;
help me to remember that it’s always worth it.
Amen.