Last week, we talked about surrender—letting go of the things that compete with our affection for God and saying with our lives, not just our lips, “You can have all this world.” If you haven’t had a chance check out You Can Have All This World, here.
This week, we take it one step further: What does it really mean to desire Jesus above all else—to seek Him with our whole hearts? To not just release what distracts… but to pursue the One who satisfies?
From Surrender to Pursuit: Living the ‘Just Give Me Jesus’ Life
“Just give me Jesus.”
It’s more than a lyric—it’s a lifestyle.
When we say yes to Him, we’re not just saying no to the world—we’re choosing the better thing. The one thing that truly matters.
The Real Treasure: Choosing What’s Needed Most
In Luke 10:38–42, we meet Mary and Martha—two sisters, both hosting Jesus. Both love Him.
Martha is busy making sure everything is done. She is “distracted by all the preparations.” But Mary makes a different choice:
“Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He said.”
Jesus gently speaks to Martha:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary chose the one thing needed: Him.
She didn’t just avoid distractions—she intentionally pursued Jesus. She positioned herself at His feet, hungry for His words, undistracted by the noise.
That’s the call for us, too. We must choose to set aside distractions and seek His face.
Like Mary, we can echo the cry of our hearts: Just give me Jesus. Not the approval of others. Not a checklist of good deeds. Just Him.
What Happens When We Seek Him?
Let’s dive into God’s Word and see what He promises to those who hunger and thirst for Him. Below is a chart of scriptures showing what happens when we choose to seek Him above all else:
Scripture | If (We Seek or Choose God…) | Then (God Promises or Gives…) |
Jeremiah 29:13 | If you seek Me with all your heart | Then you will find Me |
Matthew 6:33 | If you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness | Then all these things will be added to you |
Hebrews 11:6 | If you believe He exists and diligently seek Him | Then He rewards those who seek Him |
Psalm 34:10 | If you seek the Lord | Then you will lack no good thing |
2 Chronicles 7:14 | If My people humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from wicked ways | Then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land |
Proverbs 8:17 | If you love and diligently seek wisdom (personified as God) | Then you will find Me |
Psalm 119:2 | If you keep His testimonies and seek Him with your whole heart | Then you are blessed |
Lamentations 3:25 | If you wait for and seek the Lord | Then He is good to you |
Psalm 27:4–14 | If you desire and seek to dwell in the house of the Lord | Then He will keep you safe, hide you, and strengthen your heart |
Philippians 3:7–8 | If you count everything as loss for the sake of knowing Christ | Then you gain Christ and are found in Him |
Psalm 42:1–2 | If your soul pants and thirsts for God | Then you will be drawn into deep longing and encounter with the living God |
Isaiah 26:9 | If your soul yearns for God in the night and seeks Him early | Then you will learn righteousness and know Him intimately |
John 12:3–8 | If you pour out extravagant love and devotion to Jesus | Then it honors Him and has eternal significance |
Hebrews 12:2 | If you fix your eyes on Jesus | Then you can endure, for He is the author and finisher of your faith |
1 Corinthians 2:2 | If you determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified | Then your life and message carry spiritual power and clarity |
Luke 18:22 | If you give up all you have and follow Jesus | Then you will have treasure in heaven and true discipleship |
When we choose the “one thing” that is truly needed—when we seek Him with our whole heart—our perspective shifts. We begin to think in kingdom terms, not earthly ones.
Living Life on Purpose (for His Glory)
This is where the journey truly takes root.
Living Life on Purpose for His Glory means choosing, day by day, to seek Him first—intentionally, wholeheartedly. It’s not about striving or performing. It’s not about chasing perfection.
It’s about laying down our own plans, goals, and dreams at His feet—and allowing Him to exchange them for His.
Each small choice becomes a sacred surrender.
Each intentional pause opens space for His presence.
Each “yes” to Him becomes a step deeper into purpose—not ours, but His.
Because when we seek Him first, we don’t lose ourselves…
we find the life we were always meant to live.
Just Give Me Jesus – What This Looks Like in Real Life
- Saying no to a second scroll on Instagram—and yes to 10 minutes in the Word
- Choosing quiet moments with God over constant noise
- Pursuing purpose, not popularity
- Letting go of “good” things to cling to the best thing—just give me Jesus
- Living each day aware of His presence in the ordinary
But the truth is—this world will always compete for our attention.
Life gets busy. Distractions multiply. We’re constantly pulled in a thousand directions, each one tempting us to drift from what matters most.
Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are not of this world. He made that clear in John 17 when He prayed for us—reminding us that we are His, set apart, chosen.
And now, we must choose in return.
We must purposefully lay aside the cares, the stress, the temptations, and even the good things that threaten to consume our focus.
Because the pull of the world is strong—but His call is stronger.
We weren’t made to be consumed by this world.
We were made to sit at His feet.
To seek Him. To know Him.
To choose the one thing that is truly needed… Him.
A Simple Prayer
Lord,
You can have all this world—just give me Jesus.
Help me live every moment, every breath, every choice…
on purpose, for Your glory.
Amen.
Want to Go Deeper?
Download this week’s free printable:
📥 “Pursuing Jesus on Purpose” Reflection Journal
Includes:
- Journaling prompts
- Key scriptures to reflect on
- A cross-reference guide for Luke 10:42
- A prayer to center your heart on the better thing
[📥 Download Now]
📅 Stay Tuned for Next Week’s Blog:
Part 3: Hearts Set Apart, Arms Open Wide
We’ll explore what it means to live set apart—but still live with arms wide open to love a world that desperately needs Jesus.
Let’s keep choosing Him together.
On purpose. For His glory.