I’m pretty sure most people in America are not ready to let anyone, even Jesus, be the Lord of their lives.  At least no one besides themselves.  We’re all too focused on me.  But God is constantly moving a person in that direction; to give up himself, to “deny himself; to take up his cross daily and follow Jesus.”  (Luke 9:23)  To “take up your cross” means this: “I am crucified (I died) with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)  Jesus said that verse in Luke to anyone who wanted to be His disciple (his student, his follower).  If you give up yourself, surrender yourself, deny yourself, die to yourself, then you DO make Jesus the Lord of your life, because He comes in to your own heart and body and fills you with His Own Spirit, and He BECOMES the Lord of your Life.  That’s how you make Jesus the Lord of your life.  Actually Jesus is the One who chooses you and then you let Him come in. (John 15:16)  

When you let Him Jesus comes to live His eternal life in you.  “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)  Sounds complicated, but it’s really simple.  Just not easy.  You need to renew your decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life every day; so you will continue to draw nearer to Him and He’ll draw nearer to you. (James 4:8)  Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord, and believe [trust] that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart a person believes [trusts] unto righteousness, and with the mouth they declare [Jesus’ Lordship] and they have salvation.”