Is it worth it to follow Jesus even when it costs a lot?

Day 3. I'm on a roll as I sit here munching on my chocolate covered Acai berries from Costco. Yummy! :) Started the day off dropping Mochi off, helping some of the guys pick up stuff for their creative date and then before heading to the beach, spent some awesome one on one time with one of the project students. It was a great start to the day especially just being able to really connect with Daniel and to hear his highlights from project and what God has been teaching him. I am continually amazed at the man he is and his desire to grow and be more like Christ and all that he will be bringing back with him to UCI. After a short time, we headed back to the dorms to pick up the rest of the students for their last "free day" of project and we decided to head out to Nanakuli. It was an awesome time to just relax and enjoy each other in God's beauty! I even got some time in the Word and in my journal and am constantly amazed at how God knows exactly what I need when.

So as I stated reading, I landed in Psalms and the question posed above is what I have written in my Bible at the beginning of Psalms 1... I have no recollection of why or what sermon I just walked away with that prompted me to write that, but it's a question I often find myself facing, especially the past few days. As I've been able to process and really reflect, I've found myself beginning to face that question in the deepest parts of my soul once again... my flesh and humanness still causes me to feel uncertain at times. But as I've come to the point of being still before the Lord and soaking in the Word, I've concluded once again that the answer to that question is simply yes.

I was reading through Psalms 1 today and was reminded of the joy that I have in following Jesus especially when it costs a lot. I was first reminded of what "a lot" means... is "a lot" in my terms in anyway comparable to the cost that was paid for me? Immediately, my heart was refocused on the cross and the cost that was paid for me. I continued to reflect in this passage and was in awe of the words written by the Psalmists. That "blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers... For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous." How good it is to follow Him and to know that I am blessed! To know that in my weakness and uncertainties, the Lord is good and He will still use me to bear fruit and not let me wither away as I follow Him even when it feels like the costs are too high. That the things that come out of it will come to the fulfillment of Jesus in the end!

Again, the answer is simply yes - it is worth it to follow Jesus with my all.

So, in my love for songs and worship music, these are the words I end with tonight.

Here am I, all of me
Take my life, it's all for thee

                            

"The stronger the winds... the deeper the roots, and the longer the winds... the more beautiful the tree"