“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” – Matthew 10:39

What are some of your hopes and dreams?

What are your aspirations, goals, and even some of the items on your “bucket list?”

What career do you want to pursue?

Who do you want to marry and start a family with?

And ultimately, what legacy do you want to leave behind for the next generation?

Now, take a moment and ask yourself…why?

Why do you want to achieve those things? Why do you want to marry that particular person, live in that particular area, or work at that specific job?

If we check the motivations for our decisions, will we discover God’s will, or our own will, as the reasons behind them?

If all we get here on earth is one life, how can we have our one life, well lived?

How can we correctly make plans about our work, family, and personal lives? How can we truly know if we’re following closely behind our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, or are we leading ourselves?

The Bible says Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and every single day we must, “Deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow Him.” (Luke 9:23)

It says we are to store up our treasures, not here on earth, but up in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20)

Which Direction Are You Going?

The world will try to pull us in all different directions. Not only that, but our flesh will rise up and demand to have it our own way.

But as born again Christians, we must let go of our lives in order to truly find them.

We must choose to count everything this world has to offer as a loss so we can gain all that the Lord has in store for us.

Since God has given each one of us a free will, we have choices that need to be made. But the Bible says, “Do not be conformed to the ways of this world, rather be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2)

So the difference between us and the world is that we seek guidance, counsel, and wisdom from our Heavenly Father.  We allow His Word to be a, “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.” (Psalm 119:105)

As a result, we do not blend into the ways of this world or go along with the crowd.

If we’re doing everything the world is doing, why would they turn and follow us?

How to Know if You’re Living the Best Christian Life

A life well lived is not distinguished by how much money we make.  It’s not determined by what type of clothes we wear, what city we live in, or what type of car we drive.

In God’s economy, “The greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

Our example is Jesus Christ who came not to be served, but to serve.

Jesus put the needs of others before His own. He made sure He honored His Heavenly Father in everything He said and did.

There’s no greater sacrifice or example of surrender than His. Our Good Shepherd willingly died on the cross, as He laid down His life for our sins.

Pastor David Jeremiah once said,

“Do not be afraid to let go of things that keep you from God. And when the Lord takes things from your life, do not waste time in regret.

“When God allows you to escape Sodom, do not look back. When God asks you to suffer for Him, count it all joy…Be happy to lose some things in your life, for those losses actually become your gain.”

Do This to Live the Best Christian Life

So let’s aspire to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness.

Let’s choose to lay down our lives every day in surrender and obedience to God’s will.

Let’s purpose in our hearts that, “God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.”

His ways and thoughts are much higher and better than ours!

Let’s choose to have patience and walk by faith.  Let’s trust that God’s timing is perfect, and His best for us is well worth the wait.

Let’s choose to give up everything to follow our Jesus, enduring anything that He allows to come our way.

As Christians, we must take our stance and say, “Whatever God wants me to do, I will do. Whoever God wants me to marry, I will marry. Wherever God wants me to live, I will live.”

I will obey God out of my loyalty to Him. He alone will direct my path until the day that He takes me home.

God has given every one of us a free will so we can do whatever we want.

We can choose our own paths, reach our own goals, and follow our own comfortable way in life.

Or, we can choose to trust that our Heavenly Father knows what’s best for us.

After all, it’s the only path that leads to everlasting life, and to a life well lived here on earth.

It’s the path that stores up treasures in heaven, and enables you to reach your full potential in Jesus Christ.

It’s the only path that includes God’s absolute best for you, the path that He Himself is walking down with you.

Sure, it may be a difficult path at times.  Sure, life will not always be easy.

But in taking this lowly road, the road God tells you to take, you’ll find plenty of fulfillment that’s more precious than gold!

For narrow is the path that leads to life.

So choose every single day to be His servant, and to walk in radical obedience to His Word.

With lives laid down in full surrender, let us rejoice in Him and say, “Take my life and let it shine!”

For our “God is looking and longing to find a ready and willing heart that says, ‘Not my will, Lord, but thine!'” – A.B. SIMPSON

Study Verses: Deuteronomy 28:14, Luke 22:42, Philippians 3:7-8