When you decide to follow Jesus, He calls you to lay down our own desires in exchange for His.

This decision will test you. It will require you to crucify your flesh daily, which is why Jesus urges us to count the cost now and not look back.

"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27-33

Once you've counted the cost and chosen Jesus, knowing He is worth it all, you must understand there's no room for double-mindedness. To be double-minded means to be torn between two loyalties, wavering between serving God and serving self or the world.

As a follower of Jesus, we must live to please Him, not man.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

When you choose to serve God, you should expect opposition. In fact, disciples of Jesus are promised persecution, not only from the world, but sometimes even from their our own families, because many will not understand your new life in Christ.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." John 15:18-20

Although following Jesus means counting the cost, not being double-minded, and enduring persecution, He is worth it all. Jesus himself suffered and went to the cross for you! He knew you would face opposition, so He sent His Holy Spirit to live inside all those who believe in Him. His Spirit is our Comforter and Helper. Jesus did not leave us as orphans, you are not alone.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:26-27

Are you willing to lay down your life and pick up your cross for Jesus?