tHE BENEFITS OF WALKING WITH JESUS

In life, we all have ups and downs and it’s always a challenge to deal with the downs.  Sometimes trials are unexpected and sometimes trials can be tough to handle.  This is why God tells us to give Him our burdens and He will give us rest through it all.  He also tells us to pick up the cross and walk with Him through whatever we’re dealing with each day. Walking with the cross carries a load of sacrifice for God but the sacrifice is well worth it because we gain joy, we gain peace, and we gain a happy life while on this journey.  Below are some bible verses that talk about the importance of sacrifice and walking with God and picking up the cross for eternal life.

Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
 
Romans 12:1
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 your true and proper worship.

Hebrews 13:16
And  do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Proverbs 3:5-6 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

John 8:12 Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk-in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 
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1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
 
The bottom line is - don’t live for the world but walk with God and He will direct your path.  Like I said before when we follow Jesus, we gain peace, joy and happiness. Let’s not get caught up in the worldly treasures but get a foundation to stay connected to the vine.  I don’t know about you but I rather have Jesus than Silver and Gold.
 
Silver and Gold by Kirk Franklin and The Family (Lyrics) - YouTube
 
Amen and Thank You Lord