Scripture For Today
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. – Mark 8:35 NIV
There comes a moment in every believer’s journey when God invites us to release something we once thought we could never live without. It could be a dream, a plan, a relationship, or even a version of ourselves that no longer aligns with His will. In these moments, the call to surrender is rarely comfortable. It tests the depth of our trust and the courage of our faith.
Jesus knew this when He spoke the words in Mark 8:35. To follow Him is not merely to believe in Him—it is to give Him our whole life, trusting that whatever we lose for His sake will be restored in ways far greater than we can imagine.
When the rich young ruler approached Jesus in Mark 10:21, he was invited into a divine exchange. Scripture says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ He said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” The invitation was full of love, yet it required sacrifice. The young man could not let go. And in that moment, we see what happens when comfort becomes more valuable than calling.
Matthew 19:29 reminds us of the divine promise attached to letting go: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” God never calls us to release something without the intention of replacing it with something better and more eternal.
When we surrender what we think gives us life, we discover the true source of life itself. The courage to let go is not found in our strength but in our trust. It is knowing that what we place in God’s hands will never be wasted. It will be transformed.
Three Practical Ways To Walk Out This Word Daily
1. Practice Daily Surrender
Begin each morning with open hands, literally or figuratively, as a symbol of release. Pray and ask God to help you surrender your plans, timelines, and worries. Proverbs 16:3 reminds us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” The act of surrender is a daily renewal of trust.
2. Identify What You’re Holding Too Tightly
Take time to reflect on the areas of your life where fear keeps you from full obedience. Maybe it’s a dream, a relationship, or an identity you’ve built around success. Ask God to help you discern whether these things are rooted in faith or fear. When you release them, you make room for God’s divine redirection.
3. Follow Even When It Costs You
Walking with God sometimes means saying no to what seems certain for the sake of something unseen. Hebrews 11:8 tells us that Abraham obeyed and went “even though he did not know where he was going.” Courage is not the absence of fear—it is moving forward in faith. Every act of obedience, no matter how small, is a declaration that you trust His plan.
Closing Encouragement
When you have the courage to let go, you will find that what God gives in return is not loss but life. The things surrendered in faith become seeds for a greater harvest. Let today be a reminder that the call to follow Jesus is not about what we lose, but about what we gain: eternal life, peace that surpasses understanding, and joy that no one can take away. Trust Him with your surrender, and He will lead you into the fullness of who you were always meant to be.