Ever hear the same piece of advice and it just so happens to be the one that you keep scoffing at? It’s been said that I can be a bit slow – it’s more that I’m stubborn – but this piece of advice just seems so cliche. It’s like having trouble with your teenager and someone tells you to simply love them more.
A pastor that I listen to regularly also has several books out. Well, my husband and I decided to read one together. It’s the typical set-up that we’ve done before: we read a chapter and have a set time to discuss each week. When you listen to a pastor regularly and then sit down to read one of his books, it’s pretty easy to hear his voice coming off the page. But there’s also quite a bit that we’ve heard before that we’re now reading. It can be a bit repetitive.
This pastor is constantly telling people to simply look to Jesus. Spend time with Jesus. As you place your focus on Jesus and His finished work on the cross, life will get easier – never a promise of perfection, but as you’re walking in the Spirit, your life will be better. Trouble with your finances? Get to know Jesus. Trouble in your marriage? Focus on Jesus. Your kiddos giving you grief? Jesus has your answer. Feeling stuck in a dead-end job? Spend more time with Jesus. Simply put – keep your eyes on Jesus.
It seems too… basic, right?
It’s like telling someone about your heartache and they reassure you by telling you that they’ll pray for you. Maybe they will… maybe they won’t. It sounds nice, but a bit of a pat answer. Or when you’re struggling with a tough decision and someone asks what is God telling you to do? How is spending time with Jesus going to fix my marriage, improve my job, make my kiddos make better choices, or help my bank account?
When I was a fall-down drunk, how would my husband spending time with Jesus change me?
It just doesn’t seem like it’s enough to spend time with Jesus, isn’t it Jesus who changes lives?
I learned a long time ago that it’s not just about reading the Word, but it’s about meditating on it. I applaud those who get through reading the Bible in a year, but the reality is that it’s not about how quickly you finish the book, but about how much you glean from it. Chew on it… meditate on it… Because as you do, you’ll be better tuned in to hearing God direct your steps.
If you’ve read the last few posts, then you know there’s been some… stuff… that I’ve been struggling with. It can be rough when you’re not in an ideal situation and you and your spouse are not seeing eye to eye. At times it felt as though we weren’t on the same team, that I wasn’t a priority, and what mattered to me didn’t matter to him. It’s a lot!
But as I’ve been digging into scripture and spending time chewing on it, I was able to approach a tough conversation without the ugly tears and without the use of a hate-filled attack. Because I had been spending time with God, I was able to feel His hand on my shoulder. Mostly He was telling me to keep my mouth shut… and I actually listened!
And things have significantly improved.
When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. Psalm 91:1-2 TPT
I absolutely love the imagery there. You are hidden in the strength of God Most High… Do you think trouble will come looking for you there? Who would be stupid enough to go up against the strength of God? It’s also pretty difficult to be shooting barbs at people when you’re keeping so closely in step with God – remember, even I was able to keep my mouth shut.
So, what does this look like walked out? Well, I’ll tell you, it requires making a choice… and then making that choice again and again. It’s a choice I struggle with each day, but each day it does get easier.
It means choosing between the endless scrolling on your phone and listening to a sermon. It’s choosing between watching the latest episode of your favorite show and reading your Bible. It’s choosing to get up a little earlier to do a devotional instead of rushing through your morning to get to school or work.
It’s choosing God on a daily basis over the distractions that are ever so numerous.
Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. Philippians 4:6-8 TPT
It’s always so tempting to plug into a political podcast or a not-so-godly audio book. Why not, if you have to listen to something, listen to praise and worship music? Or simply unplug and talk to Jesus? We can lay in bed scrolling, or we can get into the Word while sipping a cup of coffee. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to choose.
Let today be the first day – or the continuation – that you choose God. We’re stepping into the new year – 2026 – and we have the amazing opportunity to invest in the most important relationship we’ll ever have. As we make those small choices to abide in His shadow, I know that everything else will fall into place.