John 3:30 (CSB)
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Early on in ministry, I made the grave mistake of thinking that ministry was too much about my talents and abilities. I fell into the trap of believing that other people’s spiritual growth and well-being were based on my work and effectiveness. It was a painful lesson for me to learn that I could not make someone love Jesus or desire to grow in their relationship with Him. It's easy in ministry to get overextended trying to make other people grow spiritually. Just like you can't make someone love you, you also can't make someone love Jesus. Ministry is about coming along beside people and facilitating opportunities for them to engage in spiritual experiences and disciplines. Each of us must take responsibility for our own faith and work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).
With that in mind, let me ask you a question: Do you want to experience more of God's power, presence, and leadership in your life? If so, think of your heart, soul, and mind as a single container; for you to retain more God, you need less of yourself, and the stuff of this world filling the container. For a believer, there is either God, self, or the things of this world that occupy space in our hearts, souls, and minds. This is even true concerning your family, because they are an extension of you. Don’t get me wrong; you're to love and serve your family because they are a good gift from God. But your family can also become your idol, because an idol is anything that we love and serve more than God.
So, if you’re struggling with a lack of time and a desire for communion with God, you might want to step back and evaluate the spiritual container of your life. Is your heart, soul, and mind filled with selfish, worldly pursuits? If so, then we've just uncovered the basis of your problem. For if your life is overflowing with “good stuff,” if you’re busy running in circles trying to keep all your blessings pacified, then you have little to no room for God.
If you're just going through the motions of practicing your devotions, going to church, and carrying out all the exterior religious stuff, you will find it difficult to sustain them long-term. True life transformation requires the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit, which happens most effectively when you die to yourself. This is why you read over and over again in the Bible about dying to self, crucifying your flesh, taking up your cross and following after Jesus, and so on. When you are empty of yourself and the demands of this world, you have room in your heart, soul, and mind to commune with God and to develop your Kingdom purpose.
I encourage you today to step back and evaluate your spiritual life. Are you overflowing with the Spirit of God, or are you overflowing with the obligations of this world? If you need more God in your life, I encourage you to heed the Scriptural call to die to self and crucify the flesh. Make room for the Holy Spirit to turn and churn in your heart and grow you from the inside out. Living your Kingdom purpose is about living a life of gradual growth and transformation, not instant perfection. Every day offers you a fresh opportunity to decrease your intake of self and the world and to increase the presence of God in your life. So, take heart and remain steadfast in your desire to live your Kingdom purpose. Let God take His rightful place as King of your heart and life, where He can direct and provide for you as you seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.
Matthew 6:33 (CSB)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.