"And he said to them all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23)

Jesus Christ
said this statement to his disciples and to anyone who wanted to follow him. Before his disciples could apply it, he himself carried the cross and was nailed to it.

Christ carried the cross.

Christ was scourged and suffered.

Christ was mocked.

Christ was pierced.

Christ had nails driven into his hands and feet. He felt pain and tasted terrible suffering.

Christ was crucified on the cross.

He died on the cross for us, crucifying himself.

If we want to follow Christ, we must first: crucify our desires. Eyes
And we crucify the lust of the flesh
And life will be magnified

The Lord knows that we will go through periods of sadness, carrying indescribable worries and pain.
There will come days when we will be flogged with hurtful words by those dearest to us.
There will come times when we will be mocked.
There will come times when we will be stabbed.
There will come times when our dearest loved ones will abandon us.
We will feel lonely and in pain.
Jesus Christ said: Whoever wants to follow me must deny themselves daily and follow me.

The Lord wants us to
crucify our pains
crucify our sufferings
crucify our desires
because he knows that the self is the cause of human destruction and misery on earth.
In order to live a life of joy, victory, and strength, we must crucify the self every day.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but the one who lives." Christ lives in me.." (Galatians 2:20)

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"(1 Corinthians 1:18).