Theme
Take Up Your Cross Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped theme prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Lord Jesus, You said in Matthew 16:24, If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. When You said cross, You meant a real instrument of death. You were not speaking about small troubles. You are calling me to put my own self to death so that I might live the life You give. That is not a small ask. Make me willing for it. The cross I carry today is small compared to Yours. It is saying no to myself and saying yes to what love requires, even when I want to protect myself instead. Take up. Deny. Follow. Three words, all active, all for today. Shape me into someone who hears Your call and does what it asks. The reward is great. The path is hard. And You have walked it first. Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray take up your cross prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Matthew 16:24. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.