“And He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’” (Luke 9:23-24)

In the time leading up to Easter, many Christians observe Lent, a season dedicated to focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus. In order to do this, individuals may give up something pleasurable in their life, such as watching television or eating sweets.

For many people, this time of self-discipline allows them to focus on the repenting of sin and completely surrendering their lives to Christ. It is a time to reflect on their life in order to reveal areas where they can improve in their spiritual walk.

Whether or not you participate in Lent, the sacrifice Christ made for us is something we should be reminded of year-round. Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in our daily lives and lose sight of this.

Joel 2:12-13 says, “’Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”

It is important to realize that everything we need is in Jesus, rather than in earthly possessions. No matter what we have done in our lives, it is never too late to turn back to Him. When we return to Him and completely surrender our hearts, we will be supplied with everything we need.

In addition, when we completely submit ourselves to Him, He will exalt us. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”

So, in this season leading up to Easter, I encourage you to shift your focus to Jesus. Ask Him to reveal to you an area of your life that may be hindering your spiritual walk, so that you can turn it over to Him. As a result, you can grow in your understanding of Jesus and develop a stronger relationship with Him.

Grand Canyon University creates an environment where students can grow in their personal relationship with Christ. To learn more about GCU, contact us today!