The following is the introduction to my new book Everyday Jesus which releases November 7. Click here to buy Everyday Jesus today.
Everyday jesus (preview)
“I need help,” the young soldier told me with tears in his eyes. “Can you help me?” The tears continued to roll down his face as we stood in the church lobby, with hundreds of people streaming past us on their way to lunch.
The brilliant, capable young man stood before me in anguish. Who could say no to someone in such turmoil?
“I can help you,” I told him.
I prayed for him right where we stood. We exchanged phone numbers, and I promised to meet up with him later that week. When Friday morning rolled around, we were sitting across from each other downtown in an old train car transformed into a cafe.
Roger began to open up to me about his recent struggles. He had left a trail of broken relationships and bad habits behind him. He had a tide of uncertain outcomes rolling toward him. He found himself at a crossroads and was looking for someone who could help him take his next step.
We talked about his childhood. He had two loving parents who were still together after many years. We talked about his plans for the future. He was excelling in his role in the military and hoped to make a career out of it. As we talked about his faith, the crux of Roger’s struggles came to light.
Roger had grown up going to church with his parents. That is, until some over-eager religious folks did some idiotic stuff, leaving his dad fed up with church. Roger’s dad never looked back. He left the church behind. He left Jesus behind. And he left his young son behind just as the boy was trying to find out what role Jesus would have in his life.
The spiritual abandonment left Roger wandering during his formative years. When he was trying to look to his father for help—his dad had hung a “closed” sign on the door to his heart. That would be hard for anyone, but it’s especially hard for a young man with a strong sense of justice, hoping for a hand from the most important man in his life.
Once his dad checked out, Roger’s life flew into a tailspin of bad habits. His life reflected his father’s struggle. Roger believed deeply in Jesus. He believed Jesus was the Son of God. But he didn’t know what that was supposed to mean everyday.
Roger didn’t know how or even if Jesus fit into his relationships. He didn’t know how much Jesus wanted to be part of his future plans. He didn’t understand how much Jesus valued and treasured the man he was becoming. He didn’t know where to turn to find the answers his young heart was yearning for.
In his heart, he wanted to believe. He desperately wanted it. He had been holding on to hope.
His story laid out before me, Roger sighed. “See how messed up I am?”
I gave him my best smile. I was full of so much hope for him. But I knew what I wanted for Roger was only a drop in the bucket compared to what Jesus had for him.
So I made Roger a promise. It’s the same promise I’ve lived by for years now. It’s the promise that changed my life more than thirty years ago. It’s the promise I’ve tried to help people understand for over twenty-five years. It’s the best promise anyone can know who is struggling to find their footing regarding faith, habits, choices, relationships, and so many of life’s opportunities.
“Every day with Jesus is better than any day without him.”
WHAT JESUS WANTS
Way too many people are living a life like the one Roger struggled with. Until he realized that Jesus is an Everyday Jesus. Until Roger realized Jesus wasn’t a Sunday thing. He came to understand Jesus wanted to be part of his everyday life. Jesus wants the same thing for you.
So many people are living life without Jesus. Maybe they go to church on Sunday to check some kind of religious, cultural, or familial obligation off their list. It’s like going to the gym once a year and hoping for a six-pack. Most don’t even do that. Most people just ignore Jesus altogether.
How does Jesus influence your daily life? If you are living without him, you are missing what he wants for you. In fact, he died so your life could be different.
Perhaps the reality of your present situation is that your life is not influenced by Jesus. You go to work without him. You navigate your home life and essential relationships without him. Even your habits and hobbies are missing what he wants for you. If that describes you, you’re missing the piece that holds it all together.
The simple truth is this: Jesus loves you. A life lived without him is much less than what it could be. If that’s you—you’re right where Roger was. Embrace the promise Roger came to realize. Jesus is an Everyday Jesus. And, everyday with Jesus is better than any day without him.
When you do, you will treat the people around you differently. Your relationships will become better than you ever dreamed they could be. When Jesus becomes part of your everyday reality, you will treat yourself differently, too. Your personal habits will shift. Your emotional well-being will improve. You will find peace and joy inside. Your strength to face your struggles will come from someone who wants nothing but the best for you.
Living everyday with Jesus shouldn’t be complicated. It should be simple and straightforward. Life with Jesus should be personal. Life with Jesus should be full of grace. Life with Jesus should be full of purpose.
If you have struggled with any of those things, it’s time to disrupt the status quo. It’s time to walk away from where you’ve been. It’s time to move into the kind of life Jesus has always wanted for you. The life where he is. It’s time to embrace Jesus everyday.
When I set out to write this book, it was for a very specific person and purpose. My big audacious dream for this book is that it will land in the hands of someone like Roger. Someone who wants to live everyday in the company of Jesus. Someone willing to reach out and ask for help.
My prayer for every page has been that it will all point to a single guiding principle. Jesus. Always. You can skip around if something in the table of contents grabs your attention. But the order is intentional and, I hope, helpful.
There are chapters about the character and nature of Jesus as he has revealed himself to me over the years. Because why would anyone want to spend everyday with someone if they don’t know them? Who Jesus is informs a lot about where we go and how we get there with him.
Some of the chapters are about some of the bumps in the road we’ll all face. You can’t go anywhere without facing some challenges. Every journey involves an intersection or two. These chapters address some of the most common issues I've encountered in my own life and in twenty-five years of trying to help others sort it out for themselves.
Ultimately, I aim to provide a set of tools that will equip you to truly live out your faith authentically everyday. I want to help you realize how simple life with Jesus is. I want you to know how much freedom there is. I hope you will come away full of hope. I want your heart to fill up with the kind of hope Jesus has for you. I want you to realize what it looks like when grace is part of your everyday rhythm. I want you to find purpose. One that surges inside you daily as you walk hand in hand with Jesus—everyday.
You’ll learn what Roger, myself, and countless others have discovered across the ages: Everyday with Jesus is better than any day without him.