Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s great to be here with you today.
Today is September 10.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down

You are stepping into a sacred space with the intent of meeting Jesus.
He wants to meet with you and spend time with you.
Take this moment to slow down, quiet your mind, and prepare your heart to connect with Him.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it
As you inhale, whisper: “Jesus, I have counted the cost.”
As you exhale, pray: “I am all in.”
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:25–33, NLT)

Notice

What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a word or phrase that catches your attention?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread

Hear this passage again and notice what Jesus says about discipleship.

Meditate

We often think being a disciple of Jesus is easy—that we simply accept Him in our hearts and we're good to go to heaven. But Jesus says something completely different.
To follow Jesus, you must love Him more than anything else in the world. More than comfort. More than convenience. More than security.
Look at what Jesus says in this passage. He uses two powerful images: a builder counting the cost before constructing a tower, and a king deliberating before going to war. Both are asking the same question: What am I willing to sacrifice to pursue this?
Jesus isn't being harsh or demanding for the sake of it. He's being honest. He's saying, "If you're going to follow me, you need to know what you're signing up for. Count the cost. Look at what it will require. Then decide."
Because here's the truth: quick and easy discipleship doesn't last. It crumbles under pressure. It fades when the cost becomes real. But true discipleship—the kind where you've counted the cost and chosen Jesus anyway—that kind of faith endures.
Jesus is asking you today: Are you all in? Or are you trying to follow me on your own terms, keeping your options open, maintaining your escape routes?
The invitation isn't to perfection. It's to wholehearted commitment. It's to saying, "Whatever it costs, Jesus, You're worth it."
Take a few moments to sit with this question:
What would it look like for me to be truly all in?

Respond

Jesus, I'm counting the cost. I see what You're asking. And I'm choosing You. I'm all in. Whatever it costs, You're worth it. Help me live like I mean it.

Exercise

The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: Count the Cost
Today's habit is an act of honest inventory.
Jesus told us to sit down and count the cost before committing to discipleship.
Find a quiet place with pen and paper (or your phone's notes app). Spend 10–15 minutes on this exercise:
Part 1: What Am I Holding? Write down the things you're currently holding onto most tightly. What are you afraid to lose? What would hurt most to give up? (Money, relationships, comfort, control, reputation, security, comfort, a dream, a relationship, a lifestyle.)
Don't filter yourself. Just write honestly.
Part 2: What Is Jesus Asking? Now, for each thing you wrote, ask yourself: Is Jesus asking me to release this? Or am I just afraid He might?
Be specific. Jesus doesn't ask us to hate our families—He asks us to love Him more. There's a difference.
Part 3: The Choice! Finally, write this down: "Jesus, I choose You. Even if it costs me [name the thing], You are worth it."
Say it out loud. Let it settle in your heart.
This isn't about guilt or shame. It's about clarity. It's about moving from vague commitment to specific, true discipleship.

I have two asks of you before you go, could you please share this podcast with one person today and check out the review of this podcast on Elevate Society?
That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.