My friend Joy and I stood at the Starbucks counter deliberating our orders. We were tired from traveling, but didn’t want too much caffeine late in the afternoon. I finally piped up with my order. “May I have a grande blonde cinnamon dolce latte with almond milk, half-caf, half-pumps, and no foam, please?”
Joy side-eyed me with a smile. Yes, I’m that girl. Specific. Particular.
We were on a work trip together (actually our entire (in)courage staff was there!), so over the next couple of days, Joy, along with Anna and Grace, got to see my special ordering skills in all their glory as we enjoyed several more coffee shop trips and ate meals together. “Why yes, I’d like the carnitas meal, please, with pinto beans instead of refried, no sour cream, no pico de gallo, avocado slices instead of guacamole, a side of limes, and half corn, half flour tortillas. Thanks so much!”
Some people might call me picky (or ridiculous), but I say I’m just a girl who knows what I want!
Yet it occurred to me recently that despite my strong food and drink preferences (Diet Coke, LOTS of ice, lemon slice, with a straw), there are lots of times in life where I’m paralyzed with indecision.
The world is like a giant Starbucks menu with so many options it can be overwhelming to feel like we have to choose the right custom combination of fill-in-the-blank to suit our exact wants or needs. What will fill me up and fuel me on in just the right way? Do you hear this looming question at every turn too?
I hear the constant whisper on social media. I can even feel this way about Christian resources. (Is that okay for me to admit as part of a Christian resource company? Welp, I just did.) Friends, I find myself weary and thirsty for meaning, significance, answers, and truth. There are so many good (and plenty of not-so-good) offerings to choose from, but every promise of deeper understanding and fresh hope can end up sounding like noise. And the thing I’m wrestling with — and I’m wondering if maybe you are too — is this:
When surrounded by so much noise, am I forgetting to listen to God’s voice?
Every day I get notifications about new planners, journals, Bible studies, IG stories, blog posts, podcasts, YouTube videos, books, devotionals, conferences, and rappers preaching revival. ALL these things are good! Yet I can get so caught up in trying to identify the newest thing that could be the most revolutionary for me (Have you tried a pumpkin cream cold brew?) that I forget I already know what I really need and where to find it.
What I really need is Jesus, and I can always find Him in the Bible.
God’s Word should be my first, foremost. End of special ordering. End of story.
I feel like this is a safe enough place to admit that God’s Word, Bread of Life, Living Water, is not always what I reach for.
God has given us the power to choose. In modern day America especially, we’ve taken that freedom to the limit – and I’m totally a part of it. While I love the opportunity to custom order my Starbucks latte and Chipotle burrito bowl, I need to quit taking this “what am I in the mood for” mentality into my spirituality.
We need to stop special ordering Christianity.
The most revolutionary thing for me and for you is to revolve our lives around Christ. Let’s orbit our thoughts around Him. Let’s order our steps toward His. Let’s make the most special thing about us that we specialize in the language and love of Jesus.
As believers, we ought to first be followers of Jesus before consumers of content.
Without a doubt, I believe content creators should create! As a writer, I’ll keep writing. Artists should keep painting. Musicians should keep composing and performing. May each daughter and son of the King use their gifts to the glory of God!
But if your soul is parched and your heart is weary like mine, we don’t need to keep scanning the Christian menu of radio stations and bestseller lists to find what best fits our current whim or wish list. Let’s feast first on Jesus. He always satisfies. He always satisfies.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35 (NIV)
As believers, we ought to first be followers of Jesus before consumers of content. -@beckykeife: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Becky,
Love this post! I agree…the best “self-help” book out there is STILL the Bible. As a believer, the Bible comes with its very own resource guide, the Holy Spirit, who will enable me to interpret and understand what I’m reading. It’s kind of a BOGO. But, like you pointed out so eloquently, we can’t special order what we read or believe. I can’t say that I like the warm-fuzzies of the Gospels, but the warnings in Jeremiah are too stern, and the Proverbs – well they step on my toes and I don’t like that. With the Bible, you get what you get with no human commentary. It’s kind of like drinking your coffee black. Am I guilty of wanting to pick and choose? You bet! Do I get lazy and shy away from perhaps hearing something I don’t want to hear? Certainly. Does it mean I GET to pick and choose? Nope. I DO know if I choose God’s living Word, I will never hunger or thirst again. Praise!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, thanks for letting me know this resonates with you. Your description here of what it’s like for you to encourages my heart all the more to embrace the gift of all of God’s Word! Thank you. ♥️
Amen Becky! He is the the way, the truth and the life
Raising my amen with you, Jas!
This is one of the best incourage.me posts I’ve read. “What I really need is Jesus and I can always find Him in the Bible,” is so simple and true.. That is why He is our Bread and Water – the sustenance for life. It’s a good reminder that more is not always better and when we are searching for “special order spirituality”, we miss the One who really satisfies our every need- Jesus. Thank you for this excellent reminder.
Yvette, I so appreciate your kind words and knowing that this post resonated with you! xx
Truth!
Victoria, I’m preaching what I’m trying to live! Thanks for being here.
So, so good. Thank you for your wisdom.
Thanks for being here, Donna!
OMG!!!! Did I ever need to hear this . Thank you Becky. I feel like lately “I choose” what God wants tell me, or what “I think” God wants me to share with someone. I find myself searching for “just the right” Psalm or scripture instead of reading, truly reading the prayer right in front of me!
Thank you. Have a wonderful blessed day sisters
Janet, I’m blessed to know that this was a timely encouragement for you!
Exactly right, Becky – so much noise!! Faith is a focus, but we are easily distracted. Thanks for pulling us back 🙂
(And thanks for reminding why I don’t miss being a barista )
“Faith is a focus, but we are easily distracted.” Yes! I need the continually pulling back too. I’m so grateful God is patient with us and always welcomes us when we come. xx
Oh, Becky. I feel this overwhelm, too! And following one more IG feed (Look! It’s another really good (in)courage writer!) is also starting to feel like adding another cherry tomato to a plate that’s already overflowing with more than I can or should try to consume. It’s so hard to know when to stop when there are so many wise, talented, funny, encouraging, truth-telling voices out there! Sigh… But whether I like it or not, I can only read so much and listen to so many voices before it stops soaking in. And wanting to follow everyone is it’s own kind of FOMO when what I really need is pure, unfiltered, uncropped Jesus on the pages of my Bible.
Melissa, you understand the struggle exactly! I think what I’m learning is to fill up FIRST with Jesus. If I have time left in the cracks of my day after I’ve spent time in the Bible to listen to a podcast, read a chapter in a book, or scroll Instagram, I will! And He has often used those as tools of encouragement in my life. But none will ever accomplish a greater work in my heart than God’s Word.
Thank you so much for this word. Lets ger back to way where when we first became a Christian. We had such a hunger for Jesus. Reading his word the Bible and saying our prayers we could not get enough. We were so hurry we wanted more. We wanted to learn more. Pray more. What happened now. We forget about all that. Tv Mobile and our Ipads have taken over distracting us. Keep us away from spending time with Jesus. Seeing what he has to say to us. We if have kids school runs to do house work to do go work as well. Come home see after work make meals see to kids if hav any do the ironing. All these things take up our time especially if Married and Single. Even if have no kids like me we have house work to do other things to do. If a Job to go to. Then after things like this tirdness sets in. Jesus comes to way side. We then just want to sit down do nothing. We then think we family like if parents are elderly we must go see them. Then we find the strength to spend time with them. We also say must before I go check my e-mails. Check my texts messages to see does anyone want me. Or if not going out to see your parents if elderly. You are so tired from doing all house work. Seeing to kids if have any. Plus tried from a days work if work. You.turn on tv relax. After checking your e-maiis and texts on your phones. Plus if have any replying back too them. Jesus again and spending time in reading his word the Bible and Praying go out the window yet again. So let put away the Mobile phone and Ipads how did we manage before theses things where made. When we where first saved we had such a love for Jesus no matter how busy our days got we always found time for Jesus his word the Bible and Prayer. We loved to here Jesus speak to us through his Holy Spirit. The Old Devil love to keep us so busy that we get so tired we have little or no time for Jesus. Lets get back to our first love we had for Jesus. Start spending more time with Jesus. Put away the Mobile and the Ipad. Pray for God to make us put him first. Then we will find we will have time for all the other things we have too do during the day. Stop putting Christianity last. PUT JESUS FIRST IN EVERYTHING YOU DO AND SAY. LOVE TODAYS READING. LESS OF THE MOBILE AND IPADS ECT. I AM ALSO TAKING TO MYSELF.
Jesus first in everything. Amen!
I completely agree, and thank you for this well-written reminder!
I appreciate you, Heather!
Oh to be able to articulate this dilemma as well as you do Becky. When you get that feeling of overwhelm from the way too many email, Facebook etc feeds from so many voices that you so want to hear. My realisation now is that it is self inflicted! And as described by others, that feeling of FOMO. As you so beautifully put our first port of call should be His Word. That never failing, never pressuring quiet voice. How did difficulty giving priority to His Word even become such a problem? I so appreciate your reminder to get back to basics. But the irony of this is where this reminder has come from……
Blessings Becky
Teresa, yes, the irony is not lost on me. Which is part of the tension, right? That’s why as a writer I am continually compelled to write the messages God puts on my heart because I know He’s faithful to use them! Yet, I don’t ever want to be drawn to someone’s retelling of God’s goodness before discovering it first-hand in His Word myself. Thank you for your kind words and acknowledging how complex this can feel …. while affirming the simplicity in this: Put God first. Period.
Well said. I’m in agreement and am thankful for your words.
I appreciate that, Amy!
Becky,
You hit the nail on the head with this post! A lot of churches today are more about “entertainment value” than actually preaching the word of God. They have coffee & donuts to enjoy. A nice praise band to listen to & sing along with. All that is nice. Why do we even come to church? Is it to hear the word of God preached & explained or to have a good time & make contacts? I heard this in a communion meditation: “how do you prepare yourself for church”? Do you read the Bible, pray & listen to good music? Is it simply get dressed, eat, watch TV & head on out? Is church an obligation or a want to out of reverence? Our society needs to stop special ordering their Christianity & the services. Jesus left the splendor of Heaven, came down to dark sin filled Earth & gave us some light. Then He died the most horrible death of all~~simply because He loves us sooo much. I don’t think most in our society realize the immensity of the pain & anguish He bore for them.
There is nothing wrong with reading some devotional books or doing a Bible study. They help us understand the word better. Absolutely nothing will take the place of reading the entire Bible. You can’t-as some try to do-pick some verses that fit your needs & leave out others. You must start at Genesis where God created the Heavens & earth & all in it. Then read on to see what happens to Israelites, how he picked the disciples, get wisdom from Solomon, hear of His death, then read about His glorious second coming. No more special ordering Christianity.
Blessings 🙂
55
Good thoughts here, Beth! Thank you for joining this conversation. xx
Beautifully written article….and I would love to be behind you in Sbux listening to you rattle off your order!!!
Wanda, haha, thank you!
So true. I needed this reminder. And it’s so difficult in our busyness to stop and take the time and effort to be with Jesus. Thank-you.
I’m with you!
Well said!
Give me Jesus!