Jesus wants to have a life with you. He wants to know how you feel, think, and live. He wants to understand you so that He can uniquely send you out on a mission only you can fulfill. Discipleship is not only about what you can do, but more about who you are becoming. Jesus wants you to spend time with Him to become more like Him.

Jesus models a life of community and discipleship that picks people for the long haul. It doesn’t mean that we’re everything for everyone all the time. But a life of community and discipleship that is modeled after Christ is one that picks deep, committed relationships, with the few that he guides us to. It’s a life that makes space for mistakes with accountability, forgiveness with loads of grace, and empowerment into something greater, away from our sin.

Don’t keep Jesus to yourself. Family, let nothing be wasted. Utilize your gifts, time, and resources to give to those around you. Don’t count yourself out or minimize the idea that God can use you to impact others. Like Jesus, minister and serve others and let nothing be wasted. Be Heaven on Earth.

What do you say to the God who gave you the ultimate gift of His Son, who came from Heaven to Earth just to show us the way from Earth to Heaven? When you find yourself enjoying gift after gift after gift that you have not earned, that you do not deserve, that you can not pay back… what do you say to the God who provided it? You say, “Thank You, Jesus… so much!" And you will be SAVED!

Anytime we put anything, or anyone, ahead of our relationship with Jesus, we have violated the first commandment. It is that simple. And Jesus makes it very clear that He does not accept that. If we don’t figuratively HATE all these other things, then we cannot be His disciple.

I’m often asked what formula or setting should be created when we pray. Many of you learned formulas at some point in your life, such as ACTS or SOAP. While there is not a specific “formula” or time of day that we see modeled by Jesus, we can learn from His prayer life.

As the crowds grew, as the demands increased, as the needs were urgent, Jesus' greatest need was to withdraw and to pray. The busyness of life and ministry did not stop Jesus from going to the Father. He had an unceasing desire to rest and receive from God. How much more do we also need to get away and pray? How often are you withdrawing and praying?

Even if everything is going great, now is the time when we get to prepare for those fight or flight moments. Let’s pursue our God so deeply, let’s get to know Him so intimately, that when our worst day comes, our only response will be to trust Him. Keep praying, friend, keep trusting. Let’s seek Him above all.

We see what’s in front of us, but God, in all His preeminence, has an aerial view. He’s not our genie in a bottle. He’s an all-knowing, holy God. The Alpha & Omega. The Beginning and the End. So, our response to our circumstances should always be prayer. Trust that His ways are good and His timing is perfect.