Lisa Bevere tells the powerful story of the time God woke her up in the middle of the night to teach her the true meaning of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Some commands of Jesus are so familiar we stop hearing them. In this message, Lisa Bevere slows us down at 2 a.m.—the hour the Holy Spirit often nudges her—to ask a simple, piercing question: What does it actually mean to carry your cross?
Deny Yourself ≠ Carry Your Cross
Lisa admits her first sleepy answer—“It means to lay down my life”—was only half the truth. The Spirit corrected her: “Deny yourself is laying down your life. What does it mean to carry your cross?”
Then came the line that reframes everything: “It’s an order, not an ornament.”
The cross isn’t jewelry we display; it’s a commission we obey.
Behold the Cross—Then Bear It
Earlier that day, Lisa had crowdsourced a one-word answer to “What does the cross mean to you?” Hundreds replied. As she typed the words—forgiveness, freedom, healing, hope, mercy, victory—she sensed the Spirit say: “Behold the cross.”
Insight: All that the cross provided for you is what you’re called to carry into your everyday, ordinary world—by following Jesus.
Carrying your cross means transporting the benefits of Calvary from your life through your life to others: forgiveness to the offended, freedom to the bound, healing to the broken, hope to the weary.
A Daily Prayer of Commission
Lisa dares us to pray this every day:
That’s not grim sacrifice; that’s obedience. We are witnesses—of His goodness, His faithfulness, His finished work.
How to Carry Your Cross Today
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Make your list. Write 10–20 words that capture what the cross has meant to you (e.g., forgiven, adopted, cleansed, restored, bold, free).
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Choose one to carry. Ask, “Holy Spirit, who needs this from me today?” Then act—text encouragement, offer prayer, extend forgiveness, meet a need.
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Follow, don’t perform. This isn’t theatrics; it’s discipleship. Stay close to Jesus and let His victory flow through ordinary moments.
For Parents, Pastors, and Young Leaders
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Model it. Let those you lead see you carry mercy and truth, not just teach it.
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Name it. In small groups or family time, ask, “Which benefit of the cross did you carry this week—and to whom?”
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Celebrate obedience. Share short testimonies. Obedience builds appetite.
Why This Matters
A church that treats the cross like décor grows sentimental. A church that treats the cross like orders from the King becomes missional, merciful, and courageous. The world doesn’t need more religious accessories; it needs cross-carriers.
Action Prompt
Pause for 60 seconds. Ask the Holy Spirit for one name and one benefit of the cross to carry to that person today. Then do it.
Short Closing Prayer
Jesus, I deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You. Let everything You purchased on the cross flow through me—today—to the person who needs it most. Amen.
