Growing Deeper With Jesus by Stacey Daley

I struggled through most of my adult Christian life, yearning to live consistently in the Kingdom realm on Earth that Jesus speaks of in the Gospels.

Have you ever seen a parent holding a child’s hand as they walk through a busy marketplace? The parent holds on tightly, but when the child sees something of interest—something shiny—they break free, unaware of the dangers surrounding them. That’s how I picture myself with Jesus. He’s holding my hand. He is my protector and provider. Yet when I see something shiny in the world, I so easily get distracted—unless I take the time to stay aware of why I need to remain tethered to Jesus. He never forces us to cling to Him, but He continually invites us to grow deeper in relationship with Him. And regardless of our inability to remain perfectly centered, He never leaves or forsakes us.

So how do we remain under the shadow of His wing and resist the distractions that constantly pull us toward the world? It’s a choice we make daily, beginning the moment we wake up. For a long time, I tried to remember to say, “Holy Spirit, I invite You into this day,” the moment my alarm startled me awake. But groggy and disoriented, I often forgot—so I renamed my alarm: “Good morning, Holy Spirit, I invite You into this day.” It became the first thing I saw each morning and helped me begin the day by giving Jesus first place in my heart.

Next, we must fill our hearts and minds with His Word—every single day. For too long, I relied on the pastor to do that for me on Sunday mornings. But by Sunday night, I had often already forgotten the Scripture from his message. Hearing isn’t enough—we must intentionally remember God’s Word. I avoided memorizing Scripture for most of my adult life because it felt difficult. But once I realized its value, I began devoting time to retaining verses and even full passages. It’s amazing how the words you hide in your heart begin to rise up in prayer. Nothing is impossible with God, and He will help you remember if you ask (Matthew 19:26; James 1:5).

Because Jesus loves us so much, He took our place and paid the price for our sin. He didn’t suffer for us to guilt us into obedience or hold it over our heads. It took me a long time to unravel that lie of the enemy. You see, Jesus desires friendship with us. Let that truth sink in. Say it slowly: Jesus — wants — to — be — my — friend.

What makes someone your best friend? At some point, you spent real time together. You know each other deeply. This is likely the person you share your best news with first. You became best friends because your hearts are bonded. Jesus wants that kind of bond with us. And the only way to build that is to spend time with Him. Silence and solitude with Jesus will transform your heart. I don’t always get it right, but I promise—when I take time to sit quietly and seek Him, He speaks.

He places nuggets of truth on my heart. It’s not always easy to quiet the thoughts swirling in my mind, so when I sit before the Lord in silence, I picture myself with Jesus. I see His smile, feel His presence, and I’m often surprised by the truth He reveals. Moments with Jesus alter many hours.

When we spend time with Him, Jesus transforms our hearts. And from that transformation comes a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude. As we fill our minds with the things of God, our love for Him deepens—and that love begins to overflow into love for ourselves and others.

Eventually, we begin to desire Jesus as our main source of love, knowledge, and wisdom. The shiny things that once lobbied for our attention begin to dull. It’s then that we grip His hand a little tighter, not wanting anything to distract us from the Lover of our soul.

These days, my alarm reads:
“JESUS, have it ALL. Be my center — the TRUTH that anchors my life.”

Guest Contributor: Stacey Daley