September 19

Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. — Luke 9:23 BSB

The higher our position in life, and the greater the responsibilities it brings, the more burdens we must carry. True calm is found in the low valleys, not on the mountaintop. As we rise in life, our cares multiply. We need to learn how to carry our burdens cheerfully, even when they grow heavy. The path to the heights is steep, and we cannot reach those places without climbing. If we want to attain the heights of life, we must be willing to climb the difficult and rugged mountain. It was no mere dream that Jacob saw in his vision of life as a ladder, stretching from earth to heaven.