What do you want the most in your life?

There’s this guy I have a massive crush on.

We’re Facebook friends and, yeah, I stalk him from time to time.

Let’s say, theoretically speaking, that he came to Chicago and asked me out on a date.

And let’s say, theoretically speaking, that I checked my schedule and was busy that day.

Do you think I would:

a. apologize and ask him to try again next time?

or

b. get the heck out of my other commitment and buy a new dress?

You don’t have to be a genius to figure this one out.

I WOULD GO ON THE DATE!

It’s not that complicated when you think about it.

Last week I asked you for your help and thought 2 of you would answer.

But you floored me! Not only did a TON of you respond, but you really shared your heart with me. And you wrecked me with your answers.

Several themes popped up. One of the most common ideas mentioned sounded a little bit like this:

I wish I spent more time with Jesus.

You long for intimacy with Jesus.

You know who He is.

And you want more of Him in your life.

Desperately more.

Yet you struggle with making the time for Him.

You don’t know how to make Him a priority.

You’re too busy with family.

You’re too overwhelmed with your physical needs.

You’re simply exhausted.

But it’s not that complicated when we think about it.

We make time for the things we love.

We re-arrange our schedule for our Facebook crushes.

We re-order our lives for the commitments that mean more.

We say no after saying yes because we recognize that a better yes is staring us in the face.

We do whatever we need to do to make time for the things we love.

Even if it costs us something along the way.

I got out of a medical mission trip once at the very last minute because I accepted a job at a church instead. My friendship with the organizer of the trip suffered because of it.

I broke off an engagement two weeks before the wedding once because I realized I was in love with someone else.

And on and on it goes.

We make time and space for the things we love.

People ask me all the time how I manage my life. How do I make time for Jesus as an ER doctor/author/speaker/global medical missionary?

It’s simple: I’ve found out I can’t live without Jesus.

I mean it literally. I cannot live without Him.

I need him daily.

I need him deeply.

I need him desperately.

I need him because my life is too complicated.

I need him because my people are too complicated.

I need him because I’m too complicated.

I have dreams that I can’t accomplish on my own.

I have disappointments I can’t reconcile without Him.

I have temptations that suck the life out of my soul.

In a world where everything is competing for my attention, I’ve found that I have to say no to some things in order to say yes to the more important things.

So I sleep a little bit less.

I socialize a little bit less.

I exercise a little bit less.

Because I love Jesus more.

What about you?

What are you choosing over Jesus?

Is it the gym? Your job? Your rest?

Is it your friends? Your small group? Your church?

In a world where everything is competing for your attention, it’s time to say no to some things in order to say yes to the more important things.

It’s time to say yes to Jesus.

I’m talking to you.

What are you going to scratch off your list to make time for Jesus?

I know you’re really pressed – I mean, who isn’t? We have Facebook, and Instagram and snap chat to keep up with these days.

But let’s make 2017 the year we chase after the things that matter most.

I want to tell you about an app I’ve started using for my quiet time.

It’s called first15.org.

Wanna try it with me? We can do this together.

Let’s run hard after Jesus because we simply can’t do it without him. 

My verse for 2017 is Exodus 33:15 where Moses says this to God: “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here”.

Would you pray this verse with me for 2017?

One last thing, you sort of spoiled me with all the emails last week. I’ve come to expect you to actually talk to me. So will you do it again? Will you leave a comment with your verse or word for 2017? I’d love to hear from you.

Here’s a teaching that I think will help you as you focus your thoughts on the one thing that matters most in 2017: