 Why do we hardly hear about the crucified life? And when we do hear it preached, why is it always preached as if joy is a sin and misery is a virtue? Carrying your cross is life unto Christ. Here is how to carry your cross. Number one, forsake your sinful ways. While it's popular to suggest that giving up sin does account as carrying your cross, it does. Denying sin is a form of self-denial, but it shouldn't end there. We should also, number two, forsake secular ways. To deny the patterns of this world is to live differently than the world. This doesn't mean we reject being human. I've heard some suggest things like throwing away your cell phone because people of the world have cell phones. People of the world breathe oxygen. Should we suffocate to avoid the appearance of evil? To avoid the patterns of this world means to reject their systems of prioritization. Above all, the world wants power, pleasure, and possessions. To make these and sin your primary pursuit, that's what it means to be worldly. Number three, forsake your selfish ways. Sometimes you'll want good things that aren't God things. We must always give up our will when it contradicts God's.