Jesus Over Everything: Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First

by Lisa Whittle

God is big even if God asks us to do a small task. Anytime He asks us to do anything, it’s life-altering even if it alters only ours.

If we are too busy looking down the road, we may well miss out on the miracle in front of us.

If there’s one person who knows about that reality, it’s Jesus.

living as a servant clears out any risk about it, allowing for a simpler life.

The best way to kill our flesh is to serve someone else—an

Craving the attention of man produces in us a desire to stay concerned with our own

interests over the hurts of the world. God is not in that.

After forty years of living the Christian life, I would describe it as many things: hard, beautiful, complex, deep, difficult, vital, worth it, but boring has never come to mind.

What could God produce in us if we were to sit in the uncomfortable transformation process instead of running away?

But, oh my word, be impressed with Jesus.

You can live with anything except for not being right with God.

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (ESV)

lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore. (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for

salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (NKJV)

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

“My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:3–4) “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,

will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17) God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. (Psalm 91:1–3) We know that everyone who has been born of God does not

keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18) • God Stays with Us “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) • God Works All Things for Our Good And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Ephesians 1:11)

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. (Psalm 138:7)

The Father has great love for us, but He’s not about our comfort; He’s about our transformation.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. . . . And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. . . . And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters. . . . And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. . . . And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. . . . And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. . . . And there

was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” . . . And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds. . . .” Then God said, “Let us make man in our ima...

heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; ...

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (vv. 1–4 NIV)

Real over pretty: When we want to look perfect, we fight to be ourselves. Love over judgment: When we feel judgmental, we choose love.

Holiness over freedom: When we could say yes but it won’t make us more like Jesus, we say no instead. Service over spotlight: When we want attention, we lift up someone else. Steady over hype: When the world tries to influence us, we continually go to the Word. Honesty over hiding: When we want to lie, we out the secret to take away its power. Wisdom over knowledge: When we are tempted to rely on books or outside inspiration to be our best teacher, we ask God to make us wise instead. Commitment over mood: When we want to run, we stay.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24–25 ESV)

“But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal” (HCSB).