“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9:24 NIV Jesus says that trying to protect your own life by putting yourself first ultimately leads to losing it, while willingly surrendering your life — your plans, control, and self-interest — to Him is how you actually find true, lasting life. It’s a paradox: clinging to yourself empties you, but giving yourself to Jesus fills you.