My Lord and my God, let the approaching promise of glory alleviate the present weight of troubles. I bow my distressed spirit in submission to Your divine will for this world and in my life. Remind me, Lord Jesus, of my status as a follower of the crucified. There still lingers in my heart a hesitation to embrace the cross I am required to carry. This cross of mine, appointed by divine will for goodness I cannot see, is heavier than I imagined on some days. How easily my wandering heart cleaves to its own desires for relief, kicking like a petulant child at this burden chosen for my soul development. Jesus, I come to You in the submission that shoulders the yoke You have invited me to come under in You. I need not lift this heavy trouble upon my own back to prove my worthiness as Your follower. You gladly and willingly carry it with me as a reminder that I can do all things through Your strength. Bring me a noble spirit to this appointed burden, Lord. An appointed burden that solidifies my union with You because on my own such a cross couldn’t even be lifted from the ground. Shoulder to shoulder with my Savior, I gladly carry the heavy and galling load up the mountain where my own fleshly desire can be crucified at last and my magnificent Savior glorified abundantly as He cries out over me ‘It is finished‘. Under the blessed Word of truth in Luke 9:23 and the authority of Christ, I bow in adoring prayer.

He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23, WEB