February 16, 2017

I recently took my twelve-year-old son on a sushi date. He loves sushi. When we walked into the restaurant, he inhaled deeply and said, “It smells so good in here! They should make a sushi-scented candle! I’d keep one in my room!”

I laughed. Gross.

Over lunch we talked about a lot of things, most of which I don’t remember. But I do remember specifically saying this:

“Isaiah, do you know what God wants most from you? He wants your heart. He wants you to love Him more than anything else. More than video games. More than sushi. More than your friends.

"If you love Him like that then you will naturally want to obey Him. And if you don’t love Him like that, ask Him to help you.”

He listened quietly. We moved on to another subject, but I pray my words impacted his young heart.

Since that day, I keep pondering what things are easiest for me to love. I don’t want to fall into loving anything more than I love Jesus. I’ve been praying like this lately:

“God, help me love You more than anything else.

More than pretty hair.

More than food.

More than wine.

More than money.

More than Facebook.

More than being right.

More than my children.

More than my To-Do List.”

That last one has recently come to my attention. I think I am addicted to my To-Do List. I love writing it and crossing things off. It’s hard for me when I don’t get it all done….which is most every day. It’s hard for me to choose to do things that AREN’T ON THE LIST.

On Valentine’s Day I actually felt annoyed when my husband surprised me with a dinner date. THAT WASN’T ON THE LIST. I ended up having fun, which he wisely knew I would, but it took me awhile to let go of my own controlling plans.

I sometimes feel like a slave to that list. And that means I have a strange, unhealthy love for it. I am working on letting it go a little bit.

“God, help me love you even more than my To-Do List.”

What about you? Are there things that you tend to love more easily than you love God?? Then ask Him to help you. I know I need His help if I want Him to be my heart’s most precious desire.

“Do you know what God wants most from you? He wants your heart. He wants you to love Him more than anything else. More than video games. More than sushi. More than your friends.

"If you love Him like that then you will naturally want to obey Him. And if you don’t love Him like that, ask Him to help you.”

Matthew 22:37-38

Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”