What if success means surrendering everything you have to focus on Jesus?
Surrender, a word that is despised by the human race. It conveys weakness and vulnerability. Surrender means to submit. But, if you want to succeed, you have to be tough and fight through it. That’s the world’s approach to things.
In a world full of instant gratification, how can you stop looking for quick solutions?
We are taught to work hard, seek the problem, find the answer, and move forward. From a young age, we are told to be responsible, so we can grow up to be successful.
Jesus teaches something very different.
Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is God incarnate. This means He has the power of God in His hands, but yet He used those hands to wash the feet of His friends. He was humble, kind, and simply obeyed everything His Father asked of Him. Even to death. He never ceased to pray with people, teach them, and support them.
His ministry was completely different than what the church leaders of His time were doing. And even some church leaders of today.
Jesus chose a tax collector, fishermen, and women to be His partners in ministry. He didn’t choose the church leaders who thought highly of themselves but had no idea about the Word of God.
Even as I write this, I get teared up because the ultimate power of Jesus is simply overwhelming. His comfort is gentle, yet His strength is unmatched. He holds your heart as you weep, but He also equips you with a powerful sword.
His life of service is the model He wants us to follow. His love was completely sacrificial, putting everyone else’s needs above His own. He surrendered every moment to His Father’s will. He endured temptation, heartache, and anger just as we do in our flesh, yet He did not sin.
Here are 5 ways you can focus on Jesus every day
1. Stop
You race to a finish line you’ll never achieve in this world. Just stop. Sometimes, the race doesn’t look the way you think. It’s not always I’m too busy, or I don’t have time for that. It can be a race that only you struggle within your own head.
Thoughts like I’m not good enough, I’m not worthy of this, or I can’t do this. Debilitating thoughts that paralyze your heart are not from Jesus. I know the battle with them, and Jesus does too. One moment is all it takes—one moment where you’re asking Jesus to help you.
2. Pray
Praying is spending time with Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, you feel something working inside of you the moment you sit down and start to pray … with your heart. You may cry, feel goosebumps, or be overwhelmed by His peace. Your relationship is built in these moments.
Grateful, humble prayer helps you connect with Him. You can make requests, and He wants you to ask in His name with faith. “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” John 14:14.
But prayer isn’t just for you to talk to Him. It’s for you to listen when He speaks to you. As a result, you mature in your faith. The more time you spend, the more you grow. It’s not really a destination but a journey.
3. Listen
Your prayer time is sacred because it builds your relationship with Jesus. In that time of you letting out your worries, fears, and humble requests, also try to take a moment to listen to Him. I know you’re probably thinking, What?! Is Jesus really going to talk to me? Yep. But maybe not in ways you expect. He may subtly speak to your heart, and you know it’s Him. Or, He may put something in your face so big that you know it’s Him without a doubt. It’s not just about listening for His voice in your life, but also that nudge from the Holy Spirit guiding you down a certain path.
4. Read
If you want the truth, you gotta go right to the source. You’re not going to get the same kind of understanding by learning from someone else. Your pastor or even your Christian friends are most likely blessed by the Lord in their ministry. God uses people to shepherd His flock.
But there is no substitute for your time reading God’s word. When you read, there is something God wants you to learn at that moment. He has a purpose for you individually. You gain understanding in a totally different way. When you learn about Jesus’ character, it helps you recognize what He’s doing in your life. You know it’s Him because you know how He works from reading about Him. It helps you focus on what Jesus has done in the lives of people when He was here. Which also helps you recognize similar events in your own life.
God’s word is inerrant, meaning it’s without error, and it will teach you about what you see in the world. The current events happening are not new. Throughout the old testament and new testament, you will see themes that you can directly apply today. And to your own life.
5. Serve
When is the last time you helped someone just because?
Tomorrow, maybe pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru line or help put groceries in the car of an elderly person. Just because we are in a time of social distancing doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities to serve. Everything Jesus did was in service, to His Father and for us.
Service is the steadfast, immovable work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). Shifting your heart from what can I get to what can I give is a wonderful way to focus on Jesus. That’s what He’s all about.
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34.
Serving one another is loving each other in the way Jesus loved us. Keeping the focus on Jesus and not the ways of the world help us to stay connected in faith. Take today to give one person something in the spirit of service. If you buy a coffee, get one for a co-worker. If you really want to ramp it up, get one for the co-worker that bothers you, or isn’t the nicest person. That’ll make them wonder if you’re really nice, or just a goofball. Either way, it will make them smile, even if it’s for a split second.
I hope this helps you focus on Jesus. I know it’s easy to get caught up in everything going on in your life right now. Especially when there are so many uncertainties. But isn’t that the best reason to spend some time with the One who can actually make a difference?