Day 1 – Trade the Hustle for the Holy

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Let’s just cut the religious fluff and be real:

Most of us are chasing something.

Maybe it’s that next job title or the raise that’ll finally make you feel like you’re enough. Maybe it’s the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, or getting the heck out of Northern Virginia to get away from... well, you know. Maybe it’s trying to shave off ten pounds or ten years, hoping that somehow makes you more lovable. Whatever it is, we all have something we think will finally bring peace, validation, or at least a break from the pressure.

And here’s the thing: Jesus knows. He knows what you’re chasing. He knows what you tell yourself late at night. But still… He says, “Seek me first.”

Notice He doesn’t say, “Quit your job,” or “Throw your phone in the river,” or “Stop caring about your goals.” He’s not trying to make you weird or miserable. He’s just saying: Start with Me.

Let Me set the pace. Let Me define what matters. Let Me be the one you’re chasing; not approval, not achievement, not stuff. Just Me.

So here’s the question, and it’s not rhetorical: What are you seeking first?

Like, when your feet hit the floor in the morning, what gets your mental and emotional energy? And here’s the follow-up: What’s that been costing you? Peace? Rest? Your marriage? Your joy?

Because Jesus isn’t trying to take anything from you. He’s trying to lead you to something better. Something that actually lasts. Let’s just sit with that for a while today.

Application:

Be honest with yourself today. What gets your best energy? Where do your thoughts go when you have five free minutes? That’s what you’re seeking first. Ask God to help you reorder the list, because when He’s first, everything else finally starts to make sense.

Prayer:

God, I’ve been chasing so many things. Some good. Some… not so much. But I’m tired. And I want what You want. Help me put You first—before work, before worry, before everything. Amen.

Day 2 – You Can’t Serve Two Masters

Scripture: Matthew 6:24

Let’s talk about this verse, “You can’t serve both God and money.” Now, most of us read that and think, “Well, I’m not greedy. I’m not serving money.” Okay… but let’s not move on too fast.

This verse... It’s not just about money. It’s about whatever has climbed up onto the throne of your heart, whatever is calling the shots behind the scenes.

For some of us, that’s control.

We need to know the plan, the timing, the outcome. We want guarantees before we take the first step.

For others, it’s approval.

We’re addicted to people liking us. Affirming us. Making us feel valuable, even if we have to fake it to get it.

For others, it’s comfort.

We’ll do anything to avoid pain, confrontation, or inconvenience—even if that means ignoring the things God’s asking us to face.

Or maybe it is money. Or success. Or achievement. Or having your life look a certain way from the outside.

Here’s the kicker—and it’s a hard truth: You can’t serve both God and that other thing. Eventually, one wins. And usually, we end up resenting God, not because He’s failed us, but because He won’t bless our idol. He won’t make our fake gods work. Not because He’s mean. Not because He’s trying to ruin our dreams. But because He loves us too much to let us keep bowing down to things that will never love us back.

That’s the heart of this verse. God’s not trying to rob you of joy; He’s trying to rescue you from a counterfeit version of it. So maybe today’s the day you ask the hard question: What’s actually on the throne in my life? And what would it look like to tear that thing down and put Jesus back where He belongs?

Because He’s the only one who’s worthy. And He’s the only one who won’t let you down.

Application:

What master are you listening to today? Take 10 minutes—seriously—and just sit with that question. Write down what competes with God for your attention and affection. Then ask Him to help you shift your loyalty back to Him.

Prayer:

Jesus, I’ve got some other “masters” in my life, and honestly, I like what they offer sometimes. But they don’t love me like You do. Show me what I need to lay down, and give me the strength to actually do it. Amen.

Day 3 – Drop the Act. Show Up Real.

Scripture: Romans 12:2

The world has a message for you: Perform. Pretend. Push through. Put on the face. Post the filtered photo. Push down the mess and act like you’ve got it all under control. And if you’re struggling? Just suck it up and grind harder.

But then Jesus shows up and says something totally different: Come. Confess. Be transformed. Jesus isn’t looking for polished. He’s not impressed by your résumé or your Sunday morning smile. What He wants is you, the real you. The tired you. The angry you. The insecure, overwhelmed, barely-holding-it-together you.

And let’s get something straight: This isn’t about behavior modification. This isn’t, “Try harder to be a better Christian.” This is a renovation of your soul. And you know what renovations are like. They’re messy. Loud. Inconvenient. You tear stuff out. You realize how bad the rot was under the surface. You second-guess whether it was worth it. But when you stick with it? Something better gets built.

That’s what Jesus is doing in you. And it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a daily, gritty decision to stop performing and start trusting. Some days? You’ll kill it. You’ll say no to the temptation, love your family well, and maybe even feel close to God. Other days? You’ll blow it. You’ll lose your temper, numb out, fall back into old habits. God knows. He’s not sitting in heaven with a red pen grading your performance.

He’s not grading you. He’s growing you. Because you’re His. Because He’s not giving up on you. Because He’s building something in you that actually lasts. So today, let’s drop the act. Let’s stop pretending to have it all together and start trusting the One who actually holds it all together.

Application:

Start today with this question: What would change if I believed God actually loves me—not some future, polished version of me, but me today? Write that down. Pray over it. Maybe even share it with someone you trust.

Prayer:

God, I keep trying to earn something You already gave me. Forgive me. I want to be transformed, not just better-behaved. Please keep renewing my mind and showing me what’s true. Amen.

Let’s just say what we all know deep down: You’re not gonna get this all right. Not this week. Not this year. Not even in this lifetime. You’re gonna stumble. You’re gonna fall back into some old habits. You’re gonna say the thing you wish you hadn’t said. You’re gonna try to fix things on your own, and it’s gonna blow up in your face.

But guess what? That doesn’t disqualify you. Because God’s not standing at the finish line with a clipboard and a checklist, waiting to see if you make the cut. He’s not watching from a distance.

He’s walking with you. One step at a time. One imperfect, sometimes sideways, sometimes crawling step at a time.

So if your spiritual journey looks less like a steady climb and more like a stock market chart after a bad press conference, welcome to the club. Seriously. That’s normal. That’s human. That’s life.

And the goal was never perfection. The goal is progress. The goal is movement toward Jesus, even if it’s slow. Even if it’s two steps forward, one-and-a-half steps back.

That’s what “up and to the right” really means. Not clean. Not pretty. But heading in the right direction. Toward grace. Toward healing. Toward Jesus.

So today, if you feel like you’re behind, or stuck, or too far gone, hear this: You are not alone.

Not for one second. Jesus is with you. This church is with you. We’re in this together. So don’t quit. Don’t fake it. Just keep going. Keep seeking. Keep trusting.

Let’s go.