There I was. Standing in my bathroom; one of the few places I could find solitude. As a mama of three toddlers I have learned that in order to get alone time, I have to be a little creative. I was there because I had started to feel an ache again. An ache to pursue a dream that had been on my heart for years. But here’s the rub, I felt conflicted. Wasn’t my family supposed to get everything from me? Wasn’t I supposed to be there for them completely? How could I devote myself to them and pursue something else? I was sweaty and anxious, seeking any bit of peace I could from Jesus, and in that moment, He met me there. He spoke words that cut through all the noise: “Nichole, I. Am. Your. Highest. Calling. Fix your eyes on Me.”

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you.” – Matthew 6:33 AMP

The book of Matthew includes one of the most famous messages Jesus ever teaches. It’s titled the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus literally climbed a mountain in order for a crowd to see and hear Him. It’s a beautiful sermon that outlines what it looks like to love God and to love others. In chapter six it addresses anxiety and worry. Jesus says not to be worried about what you wear or what you eat or about anything because He faithfully provides. He ends that section with a challenge to run after God, His church, and His heart. He promises that if we do that, all the things we need will be given to us.

He reorients our hearts to what is best when He says to seek Him first.

I know what you’re thinking. Nichole, there are necessary demands placed on my life. I have to work. I have to do the laundry. I have to make doctor appointments and hold my children and invest in my spouse. Where do I find the time to spend with Jesus? Or to even begin to find the time to pursue dreams? And to that I say, yes, friend, I get it. I struggle with the same thoughts every day.

But God’s economy is not like our economy. He is the only one who can take our little and make it much; who takes our nothing and makes it something.

So what I’m saying is exactly what Jesus said to me in a fleeting moment of quiet in that bathroom. He. Is. Our. Highest. Calling...

and He calls us first to Himself for our good. He does this because it is the best thing for us.

I have a friend who models this beautifully. We had the honor of living with her and her family for a season, and still to this day the image of her sitting outside on her patio, eyes closed, talking to her Savior will stay with me forever. No matter how messy her home was, with five kids she will admit sometimes it got a little crazy; no matter how many demands were pressing her at the time, she consistently would push all that aside and meet with Jesus. She would sit, surrounded by mess, and seek Him first, and the fruit of her life displayed this! She would admittingly say she is not perfect, but she has more patience with her children, more focus on the kingdom, more energy, kindness, and intentionality built into her day because she would say she puts Christ first.

God’s desires have become her desires. Jesus has always cared more about the condition of our hearts than the condition of our homes, bank accounts or inboxes and now, so does she. It’s beautiful.

Christ is our highest calling, and God will make good on His promises.

These are some of the promises He makes to us in scripture:

“Seek first His Kingdom and Righteousness all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
“I will complete the work I began in you.” – Philippians 1:6
“Man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps.” – Psalm 16:9
“I planted and Apollos watered but Lord made it grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

What this means to me is that I do not need worry about how it’s all going to get done, how I’m going to love my family well and answer the call to ministry. That’s not my job. My job is to show up and pursue Christ, and everything else will work itself out--the everything else belongs to Him.

So today, if you are asking if you are enough. If you are wondering how you will get it all done. If you have found yourself consumed with the grind and anxious for the future, fix your eyes on Jesus. He is faithful and more committed to your life being transformed to be like Him than anyone else.

So what about today? Is Christ foremost in our hearts? Have we even taken the first step to pray for Him to be the forgiver of our sins and leader of our lives? Christ desires this more than anything because He wants to know you. He desires your good, and He loves you.

Are there people and things in our lives that are taking the place of Christ as our highest calling? If so, I invite you to join me in confessing that to Jesus and committing to take that next step towards surrender.

Fix your eyes upon Jesus. Look full on His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of His glory and grace.