🎙️ 25-323 — Following Jesus Daily

Discipleship isn’t a title; it’s a trail.When Jesus walked the shores of Galilee, He didn’t hand out pamphlets or build a following through social media. He looked a few fishermen straight in the eyes and said two words that changed everything:“Follow Me.”That’s it. No marketing pitch. No promise of comfort. Just a call — and an invitation to leave everything behind for something greater.Following Jesus isn’t about location — it’s about direction. Every disciple starts the same way: walking away from self and walking toward the Savior.I still remember the day that truth hit home. I’d been a Christian for years, but I was still driving the car while asking God to bless my route. Then one morning, the Holy Spirit convicted me hard: “Matthew, I can’t lead what you won’t surrender.”That’s when I realized being a disciple isn’t about asking Jesus to walk with me; it’s about me walking wherever He’s going — even if it’s uncomfortable.Michelle and I have lived this out over and over. From ministry highs to financial struggles, from seasons of clarity to moments of silence — we’ve had to decide: Will we trust Him when the map runs out? Will we still follow when it costs us pride, plans, or comfort?The answer had to be yes — because discipleship is not a once-a-week commitment. It’s a daily death and daily resurrection.Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”Notice that word — daily. Discipleship isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence.You won’t get every step right, but every step you take with Jesus changes you. The disciples weren’t perfect men — they argued, doubted, ran, and failed. But here’s the difference: they kept following.Every day, you and I wake up in a world screaming, “Follow your heart.” But Jesus says, “Follow Me.” And that one command flips everything.When you follow your heart, you’ll end up lost. When you follow Jesus, you’ll find your heart’s true home.Maybe your path today looks uncertain — your marriage tested, your kids wandering, your faith stretched thin. Following Jesus doesn’t mean you won’t face storms. It means when the wind howls, you’ve got the One who commands it walking beside you.When Michelle and I look back at the times we tried to carry everything ourselves — our ministry, our dreams, our disappointments — we see the same pattern. Every time we surrendered control, peace came back. Every time we followed His whisper instead of our worry, doors opened we didn’t even know existed.That’s what discipleship looks like — obedience over outcome.📖 SCRIPTURE ANCHORLuke 9:23 (ESV) — “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”💡 LIVING PRINCIPLEDiscipleship isn’t about arrival; it’s about pursuit. You don’t have to be perfect — just willing to keep walking.⚔️ DAILY ACTIONAsk God to show you one area of life you’ve been leading instead of following. Then hand Him the reins — no conditions, no backup plan.✅ PRACTICE (Do This...)* Read Luke 9 aloud with your family.* Journal what “taking up your cross” looks like in your current season.* Pray together before bed: “Lord, wherever You go, we’ll follow.”💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAYWhen life gets messy, don’t ask, “Where is Jesus?” — ask, “Am I still following?”🙏 PRAYERJesus, I don’t want to just admire You — I want to follow You. Even when it’s hard. Even when it hurts. Teach me to pick up my cross daily and walk in Your footsteps. Let obedience become my default and surrender my strength. Amen.🔥 IN CLOSINGYou were never called to be a fan of Jesus — you were called to be a follower.And followers don’t need all the answers; they just need the courage to keep walking.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe