Jesus and Everything

Let's be honest, we could all use a little more Jesus in our lives. As a matter of fact, most of us are not putting God first or letting him lead us in our day to day reality. But why? Why do we not put the creator of all things at the center of everything? Colossians 1:16 says: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

We go to him with big decisions or major events that are happening but we need to be making Jesus a part of everything we do. We should be incorporating him into our everyday lives, no matter how big or small. Let discuss some ways we can do that.

READ - This may seem like an obvious effort but there might be more ways to incorporate God's word into our days. Having a morning or evening devotional is a great way to start. Whether it's alone, with a spouse or family member, reading a few chapters of the Bible and going to God in prayer is a positive way to start or end your day. But it doesn't have to stop there.

Work on memorizing a certain verse that inspires you. Put that verse on your bathroom mirror or your car steering wheel and try reciting it out loud randomly throughout the day. This way God's word is always on your mind.

Try leaving out an open bible in a high traffic area in your house like the kitchen or living room. This way you can stop to read a few verses before the daily activity you're about to start.

Setting random reminders on your phone to read a verse or two on your bible app throughout the day is a great way to refresh with God's word when your mind is buried in something else.

PRAY - The best way to incorporate more Christ into our lives is to talk to him. Praying before a meal is great but we should be going to him more often than just before dinner. Try making prayer the first thing you do in the morning, even before getting out of bed. Or maybe pray something quick as you're washing your hair in the shower, thanking God for something that made you smile.

Do you drive to work by yourself every day? You don't have to. Talk out loud to God and let him know what's on your mind, your concerns, your worries, your joy... let him know how you're feeling.

Make it a point to pray throughout the entire day. Like before a meeting or when making a decision. Navigating normal life is a lot less stressful when we let God guide us.

But we aren't the only ones who need his help. Keep a prayer request list on your phone then pick one and take it to God at the top of every hour.

LISTEN - What we listen to can have a dramatic impact on our thoughts and our mood and can even affect our relationships and the way we treat those around us. So let's replace "garbage in/garbage out" with "Jesus in/ Jesus out."

Music is definitely one of the quickest ways to change a mood. Do you grumble on your drive home from work? Find a christian radio station and sing out loud to every worship song you know. Some christian tunes can also help make cleaning the bathroom a little less terrible. Good music can fundamentally change your attitude and frame of mind.

Podcasts are another great source for God-filled audio. There are a ton of great christian podcasts out there to choose from based on what you enjoy. From good, solid teaching and preaching to testimonies and stories from other christians. It's good to hear the word taught to us by those who are honest and knowledgable. It's good to have our hearts ache hearing the stories from our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's good to share in the joyful journeys and testimonies of others coming to Christ. It's good to just sit and listen to christian conversations instead of so many other worldly and sinful options.

These are just a few ways to incorporate more Christ into our daily lives. We want our experience on this earth to be "Jesus and _____ " not the other way around. So say a prayer before your next Jiu-Jitsu class. Listen to a christian podcast while you make dinner. Put on some christian metal while you work out. Read a few passages of scripture while you brush your teeth. Let's start making God a part of everything we do.

What are some ways YOU fit more Jesus into your day to day life?