So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33 ESV)

Christianity is free, but it will cost you everything.

Last week I arrived at my office early one morning and spent about an hour in prayer. As I prayed for my family, my staff, our church, and various groups of people, I sensed a prompting from the Holy Spirit.

“Give your life to Me.” The voice was clearly the Lord’s whisper to my heart, but my initial thought was, “Lord, I gave you my life a long time ago.”

Still, the Voice persisted. “Give your life to Me.”

So I began an inventory of my life. I began to verbally yield my life to The Lord, one part at a time.

I gave my spirit, then my soul (mind, will, emotions), then my body.

Then I gave him my wife – the relationship of greatest value in my life. Then I gave Him my daughter. Then my son.

Then I gave Him my ministry and my church, my staff and my dreams and goals.

Then I gave Him my house, my cars, my possessions.

This process went on for a while, and with each commitment I made to God I realized the lesson He was giving me.

You see, when I first gave my life to The Lord I was very young. I was innocent, if not ignorant of the weight and value of my life. I certainly had no idea of God’s plans for my life.

As a teenager and young adult I came to a deeper understanding of my need for Jesus. In those years I renewed my commitment to Him with greater understanding of my decision.

When I gave my life to God as a child, as a teenager, and as a young adult I gave Him all I could give – all I had at the time.

But now I am older. I have so much more. I have a wife, a daughter, a son, a home, a reputation, a ministry, a sphere of influence – none of which were a part of my life originally.

So when the Holy Spirit prompted me to give Him my life, I quickly realized that, this time, giving my life to God would cost me much more than last time.

The weight and value of my life is greater than ever before – but God still requires ALL.

So, with renewed faith and overwhelming love for my Savior, I counted the cost and paid the price.

Once again, I gave Him everything.

Why would I give Him everything? Why would I trust Him with that which is most precious to me?

Because without Him I would have none of it. My gifts to Him were first gifts from Him. He has been so good to me. I know I can trust Him with ALL I have – all of my life.

Father,

My life is Yours. You gave it to me. Now I give it back to You. Use me for Your glory.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.