Jesus In First Place… Over Everything

Happy Advent season to you. I want to share with you for a few minutes a message God has put on my heart.

I was talking with someone the other day and I asked her how she was, and she said to me, “the holidays are historically a difficult season for me,” and I know that’s true. The holidays are often difficult for a lot of people.

And even more so, this holiday season is tough for people I know. We’ve all been quite worn down from a difficult 2020-2021.

But here’s what I want you to know.

It is a strategy of the enemy – who we know is real – to keep us in a state of discouragement, disarray and complication.

It says in John 10:10,

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Those are his goals.

What does he come to steal, kill and destroy? The physical body? That also may be true but maybe even more so I believe he comes to steal, kill and destroy our hope, our mental health, and our sense of peace. And, he’s tried to do that in a big way this past year, hasn’t he?

But. In that very same verse, Jesus reminds us of the solution that is found in one source — Him. In John 10:10, He says,

I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.

I believe He added that last part, the word “abundantly,” so we would know it isn’t just about existing. It is about a good life. A life lived in fullness, even in the midst of deep difficulty.

You may say yes, Lisa I’m on board with this idea. But I just can’t seem to get there. I understand. I’ve often said, “the struggle is real but so is the help of God.” Jesus is ready to help us. But we have to do our part. He has to be in charge of our lives. In the #1 priority spot, in order to make our lives work right. It’s the only way it can.

His arrival. The birth of Jesus thousands of years ago was for THIS moment right now. He came for 2020 and 2021.

The hope who will not disappoint. According to Romans 5:5, Jesus is OUR only hope right now and forevermore.

Friend, there is a battle going on for you right now. Satan wants to keep you hopeless. He wants to keep you unsettled and your life complicated because if you stay there, you stay ineffective for the Kingdom of God. You stay worried. You stay without meaning or peace.

Jesus fights for and with you to believe and trust – but today He’s asking to have that seat of authority in your life that He deserves. That is how you will be able to do this because the priority of Jesus brings order to the chaos of our lives. It’s a job only He is big enough to do.

That is why I so want to invite you to join me in putting Jesus Over Everything. The study isn’t a traditional Christmas study, but it will help you get things in order to fight your anxiety and hopelessness and take your life back.

That Baby born in a manger was and is our hope. He hasn’t lost a bit of power. We just need to give the power in our lives back to Him.

As you journey through this season and into the new year, I hope you’ll remember the power of some of my favorite verses – In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. In Him was life and life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Amen and amen. Jesus over everything. He is the great light of this world – our light – until the end.

As we light our candles for advent, I invite you to join me in asking Jesus to be first, be #1 in our lives. Jesus over everything.

Written for FaithGateway by Lisa Whittle, author of Jesus Over Everything.

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Your Turn

Are the holidays hard for you? Maybe Is this Advent season harder for you this year than it usually is? The enemy loves it when we are down and discouraged. But, God wants us to have His fullness, His joy, His hope no matter what is going on. That requires us to put Jesus first. Over everything. ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full