First Things First: Putting Jesus Where He Belongs

There are times when life feels perpetually out of order. When it feels that way, we rearrange schedules. We reset routines. We make lists and set goals. We try to get everything lined up just right and yet, something still feels off.

It's not always that things are dramatically wrong, just quietly unsettled. We’re busy tending to many things while missing the one thing that actually holds everything together.

The issue usually isn’t that we don’t love Jesus - it’s that without realizing it, we’ve stopped putting Him first.

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When Good Things Take First Place

Most of us don’t replace Jesus with bad things. We replace Him with good ones.

Responsibilities. Family. Ministry. Work. Health. Growth. Productivity. Even spiritual disciplines themselves can slowly shift into the center if we’re not careful.

We tell ourselves, “I’ll get to Jesus once everything else is handled.” But the truth is, everything else never really settles until we put Jesus first where He belongs.

Jesus was never meant to be added to our lives. He was meant to be the foundation our lives are built on.

Why Order Matters More Than Effort

So often we think the answer is trying harder - more discipline, more consistency, more resolve. But effort can’t fix the problem of order.

When Jesus is first, clarity follows. Not because life becomes easier, but because life becomes properly aligned.

When Jesus is first:

• Decisions are filtered through Him

• Priorities fall into place instead of competing

• Peace becomes rooted and stops being circumstantial

• Obedience becomes a response, not a burden

  
  

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about position.

Putting Jesus First - Where He Belongs

Putting Jesus first doesn’t mean ignoring real responsibilities. It means letting Him shape how we carry them.

Prioritizing Jesus means:

• Seeking His presence before seeking solutions

• Letting Scripture anchor us before opinions shape us

• Praying not just for outcomes, but for alignment

• Returning, again and again, to what matters most

  
  

The word returning matters. Because this isn’t something we decide once and never revisit. Life has a way of slowly pulling Jesus out of the center. That’s why putting Him first is not a moment, it’s a rhythm.

More Than Just a New Year Reset

Moments like the beginning of a new year often remind us that something needs to change. But the truth is, the message isn’t limited to a season on the calendar.

Any day can become a reset, and any moment can be a return.

Whenever life feels crowded, rushed or unclear, the question is usually the same: What in my life has taken first place?

The decision should always be same - return to what matters most - Jesus.

A Quiet Invitation

This year, my heart is drawn toward realigning my life around what matters most. It's drawn toward creating space to keep first things first, not just once, but continually. I know that my focus must be on Jesus.

That’s the heart behind what I share here at All Things Life. This is also the heart behind the reason I created the Vault, which I designed to be a quiet place for those who want help keeping Jesus the center of their lives through Scripture, reflection, devotionals and gentle moments of building faith. No pressure. No hurry. Just a place to slow down and put Jesus back where He belongs in our lives.

Whether things are going well or seem to be falling apart, when Jesus is first, the peace and calm carry us through.

If you’d like to learn more about the Vault, you can find it here.

Blessings,

Amy