Lord, you have commanded us to take up our cross and follow you

Lord, you have commanded us to take up our cross and follow you.
That is hard.
There are many days when all we want is an easy life.
We want to please ourselves and not bother about others.
We like to find the quickest way to get something done.
We are not good at waiting for those who do things differently or to try to understand them.
We do not spend much time praying for others instead of ourselves.
Lord, it is hard to follow you in the way that you demand.

But then, Lord, even as we say this we remember your life here on earth.
What if you had taken the easy way out of every situation?
What if you had put your own needs first rather than serving others?
What if you had pleased yourself instead of pleasing your Father?
And, Lord, how can we ever think it – what if you had refused to go to the cross because it was too hard?
What if you had never died in order to bring us to God?

Lord Jesus, forgive us that we so easily give up in our efforts to follow you.
We thank you that you have given everything for us.
We bring ourselves again to you today.
Please help us this week to live lives worthy of your name.

For it is in the name of Jesus that we pray.
Amen.