Do you ever find yourself striving to “get everything right”, and yet feeling you always fall short? Me too!

During my quiet time, I listened to a song by Chandler Moore, “Nothing Else”, a longer version where he shares a powerful exhortation starting around minute 5  of the video. The song is about wanting nothing else but Jesus. Chandler said in his exhortation that he found himself in a state of anxious decision-making, asking, “Lord, is this what you want?”, “Is this what you want”, over and over again. I can so relate – straining to “hear” God so I can follow Him. When Chandler sought the Lord, the Lord told him, “If you just want Me, everything else will be filtered through your desires for Me.”

When I heard that a tangible weight fell off my shoulders. Can it be that simple? Just want Jesus and all else falls into place? A passage of Scripture from Revelation chapter 2 came to my mind. Jesus is addressing the church in Ephesus.

(2) I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.
(3) I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.
(4) But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].
(5) Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.
(Revelation 2:2-5, AMPC)

Jesus complimented their good deeds (verses 2 and 3), and then gave them a stern warning (verses 4 and 5). In all their “doing”, they had strayed from their first love – Jesus Himself! Did they love Him enough to repent and return to Him? No matter what they did, it would never be enough if they abandoned Jesus in the process. Same is true for us. We often strive because we’ve lost our connection with our First Love.

Returning to Jesus is something we need to do every day, not just once and done. As the day goes on, especially when during busy times, we can slide into striving and find ourselves frustrated, anxious, and worn out. When that happens, we can re-focus on Jesus, repent, and fall into His loving arms of forgiveness. In an instant we are right back on track, filled with His love, peace, and joy.

And that’s the only place to be!