Devoted Discipleship: Our Discipleship

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” 

~ Luke 14:27 (ESV) 

Growing up as a young girl in the church where my grandfather was my pastor, I learned the lyrics to this precious hymn written by Simon Marak:  

“I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus,

No turning back, no turning back.”  The following verses go on to tell this story:

“The world behind me, the cross before me” (verse two); “Though none go with me, I still will follow” (verse three); “Will you decide now to follow Jesus? …No turning back, no turning back” (verse four).

As I reflect on the lyrics to this song, it offers profound insight in the most simplistic way of what it means to truly be a disciple of Christ: to follow Jesus.

Do you remember when you first accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation?  What is not always explained when we come to faith as a believer is the difference between accepting Jesus as Savior and yielding to Him as Lord.  They are not the same.  In fact, in order to receive Jesus as Lord, we must be willing to become His disciple.  We must deliberately follow Him.

Luke 14:27 (ESV) tells us, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” 

Salvation is the matchless gift given to us by our Savior for our taking, if we choose.  It costs us absolutely nothing.  However, the cost of discipleship requires us to follow Jesus - each and every day - by taking up our cross in pursuit of Him.

In a culture where people express devotion to many causes, I want my life to be marked by my devotion to The One that truly matters.  I want to be a devoted disciple of Jesus.  

Will you join me over the next months as we embark upon a new blog series, “Devoted Discipleship” and explore just what it really means to follow Jesus?  On this journey, we will define and discover exactly what being a fully devoted disciple looks like day-by-day.

If you are not already in the loop, be sure to sign up for my weekend inspirational emails called, “Sweet Saturdays” where each new blog post will be shared along with other encouragement to fuel your faith as a devoted disciple of Jesus.  You can do this by visiting my website:  lacelegacy.org

---

Warrior Woman Blog

Hello, beautiful Warrior Woman! Did God speak to your heart through today’s post? I would truly love to hear from you. If you’re reading this on my website and haven’t yet subscribed to my email list, I invite you to join our L.A.C.E. Legacy community. When you subscribe, you’ll receive monthly blog posts delivered straight to your inbox on the weekends— our "Sweet Saturdays" inspiration. Also, you will receive a free download of my Prayer Focus Guide and Planner, a resource designed to help you center your heart and prioritize prayer during your personal devotional time with God.

If you’re already a subscriber, thank you for being part of this journey. I welcome you to reply to the email version of this post and share how God spoke to you or how I can stand with you in prayer. Your voice matters here, and I’m grateful to walk alongside you in faith.

---

Join Our Substack Community!

---

About Patrice

Patrice Grant is a minister, author, speaker, and worship leader devoted to guiding women to the transforming grace of God through the truth of Scripture. Passionate about helping women live authentically and pursue God passionately, she encourages women to cultivate a daily rhythm of devotion anchored in spiritual disciplines.

Called to champion women in their identity and purpose, Patrice exhorts believers to remember that their worth is defined in Christ—not culture. With a Master of Divinity degree, she teaches with clarity, conviction, and compassion, equipping women to follow Jesus wholeheartedly as true disciples.

A gifted writer and communicator, Patrice shares messages that strengthen the faith of women and inspire deeper intimacy with God. She is the author of Warrior Slay, a devotional on the power of worship and prayer; Living My Best Life, a Bible study for single women; and Be Still My Soul, which invites readers into the spiritual disciplines of silence, solitude, and daily prayer journaling.

Patrice is also the founder of L.A.C.E. Legacy, a ministry created to empower Christian women to live as Ladies Anchored in Christian Excellence—embracing and embodying the legacy of faith they carry.

You can connect with Patrice through her website, Warrior Woman Blog; her Facebook community, Warrior Women; on Instagram and Facebook at @patriceburrellgrant; and on YouTube at L.A.C.E. Legacy with Patrice (@lacelegacy).

---