John 3:30 (NIV)

30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

“Did you save room for dessert?” It never fails. You go out to eat with every intention of saving room for dessert at the end, but then they bring out the fresh bread, and the appetizers look really good, and “I know we were going to share but I really want to try both things…” There just isn’t room for dessert. Maybe if it was free you would have a couple of bites but it isn’t worth spending the money because you are no longer hungry at all. 

This is what it is like trying to follow Jesus in our culture. We have every intention of spending time with God and following Jesus wherever He leads us today. However, we are so full from going to work, doing family stuff, hanging out with friends, volunteering at church, endless entertainment at our fingertips, etc. None of these are bad (well, they needn’t be), but they fill us up and we are just too full to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. It sounds great, but I couldn’t eat another bite, regardless of how appealing it may be. Perhaps if it didn’t cost us anything we would do it but the cost is great… so we simply pass. Next time for sure. 

You only have so much room in your soul and you can’t make more. If you are serious about following Jesus, you are going to need to get rid of some of the stuff that is taking up space in your life. If you want more of Jesus, there has to be less of everything else; less of this world, less of you. 

Your turn:

• This week you are going to work on subtracting. What can you eliminate from your life. 

• Make a log of how you are using your time. 

• Where are you investing time without getting a good return? 

• Do any of these embarrass or frustrate you? Eliminate it!

• Maybe limit your access to screens (tv, youtube, social media, phone, etc)

• Set a time limit for your apps, or eliminate them completely

• Only use your phone during certain hours of the day

• For every hour you spend watching tv, set aside an hour for sitting in God’s presence. 

• Learn to say no

• Just because something is a good idea, it doesn’t mean it is a God idea. 

• Do fewer things with greater intentionality

• A hard no helps to say a better yes