Putting God in the Driver’s Seat

Devotional

Day 1: Seek First: Alignment Over Adjustments and Resolutions

New habits matter, but alignment matters most. Changing the “tires” of your life—fitness goals, family plans, career moves—won’t keep you from drifting if Jesus isn’t in the driver’s seat. To seek first means giving Him actual authority over your choices, not just your Sunday attention. Invite Him into the car, hand Him the wheel, and trust His routes: forgiveness, generosity, obedience. The kingdom of God is what life looks like when Jesus is in charge—here and now. Start this year by making Him first, not merely important. [07:42]

Matthew 6:31–33
Don’t let worries about food, drink, or clothing run your life. People who don’t know God chase those things, but your Father knows what you need. Make His reign and His way your first pursuit, and the rest will come into its proper place under His care.

Reflection: If Jesus has been a passenger in one area of your life, what is one decision you will let Him lead this week, and what concrete change will that require of you?

Day 2: First in Finances: Treasure Reveals the Heart

God isn’t after your money; He’s after your trust. Everything ultimately belongs to Him, and giving Him your first and best honors His place in your life. Scarcity whispers fear, but worship silences it. When you prioritize generosity, your heart moves toward God and away from anxiety. Let Him hold the top spot by dedicating the first portion and inviting Him to guide every financial choice. [06:31]

Proverbs 3:9–10
Honor the LORD with your wealth, offering the first and finest of what you gain; then He will see to your provision, filling what holds your resources to the brim and refreshing you with more than enough.

Reflection: What specific step—budget change, first-gift habit, or debt plan—could you take this week that would express trust in God’s provision rather than fear?

Day 3: Christ Over Interests, Hobbies, and Politics

What captures your attention will shape your affection. Whether sports, scrolling, or spirited debates, let every interest be brought under Jesus’ leadership. The Holy Spirit often nudges, “Don’t post that” or “Turn this off”—not to shame you, but to protect your heart and witness. Choosing content and conversations that reflect Christ loosens the grip of distraction and pride. Whatever you enjoy, enjoy it for God’s glory and within His boundaries. [05:28]

1 Corinthians 10:31
If you’re eating, drinking, or doing anything at all, let every action be carried out in a way that points back to God’s greatness.

Reflection: Which interest or screen habit most crowds your time with God, and what one boundary will you set this week to make space for Him?

Day 4: Put God First in Your Schedule and Rhythm

Partial faithfulness isn’t faithfulness; first place requires consistent attention. Life fills fast, so choose a rhythm that keeps you close to God—morning, midday, and evening. Bless Him at all times, and your calendar will learn to serve your calling instead of smother it. Step back from good things if they keep you from the best thing. Create space to pray, worship, and rest, and let your days be ordered by His presence. [04:56]

Psalm 55:17
At dawn, at noon, and at dusk I cry out, and He listens to my voice.

Reflection: When, specifically, will you pause to be with God morning, midday, and evening this week, and what reminder will you set to keep that promise?

Day 5: First in Trials: Run to the Strong Tower

Crisis reveals who or what we trust first. When the pressure hits, turn immediately to the Lord—pray, ask for wisdom, invite others to pray with you, and wait for His direction. The enemy wants to crowd your life so God feels far; trust brings Him near and clears the path. As you surrender your understanding, He straightens what feels tangled and shows you where to step next. Let Jesus lead you through the storm, not after it. [06:14]

Proverbs 3:5–6
Place your full confidence in the LORD and refuse to lean on your own perspective. In every turn and choice, look to Him, and He will make the way clear before you.

Reflection: Name one current trial: what would it look like to turn to God first in the next 24 hours—prayer, a verse to hold, or asking a trusted friend to pray with you?

Sermon Summary

Resolutions can change habits, but only reordered loves change a life. The call is to give Jesus the top spot—not as an honored passenger, but as Lord in the driver’s seat. Drawing from a hilarious yet sobering tale of a misaligned car, the point is clear: new tires won’t fix a bent frame, and new goals won’t fix a disordered heart. Matthew 6:33 sets the compass: seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the rest finds its place. The kingdom isn’t a far-off destination; it is what the world looks like when Jesus is in charge here and now. The Lord’s Prayer—“Your kingdom come”—is a daily invitation for Christ’s rule to reshape priorities, decisions, and desires.

A vivid “car of your life” picture asks: Is Jesus in your car? If so, where—trunk, back seat, passenger seat, or at the wheel? Even when He drives, many still coach from the back seat, resisting His turns toward forgiveness or generosity. Putting God first is practical and testable through the F.I.R.S.T. framework: Finances—honor the Lord with wealth because the heart follows treasure; Interests—do all for God’s glory, including scrolling and politics; Relationships—build unions aligned with Christ’s will, especially in marriage; Schedules—partial faithfulness isn’t faithfulness, so establish rhythms of prayer and praise; Trials—run first to God as refuge. These are exactly the fronts where the enemy presses—scarcity in money, distraction in interests, compromise in relationships, busyness in schedules, panic in trials. His aim is subtle: make God feel far away.

But God’s promise stands: trust in the Lord with all your heart; acknowledge Him in all you do; He will make your paths straight. Alignment is not about intensity of religious feeling, but the sequence of allegiance. When Christ is first, everything else is added in its rightful order—peace replaces striving, wisdom displaces confusion, and courage grows where fear once ruled. The invitation is simple and urgent: invite Jesus into the car, move Him to the driver’s seat, stop backseat driving, and test His faithfulness. Taste and see—when Jesus is in charge, life moves in the right direction.

Key Takeaways

1. Seek first, not second Ordering loves, not stacking tasks, transforms a year. When God is first, worry loses its leverage and provision finds its place. “First” is about authority, not busyness—who sets the agenda when desires collide? Alignment follows allegiance, not effort. [37:49]
2. The Kingdom is Jesus’ present rule The kingdom isn’t only future; it’s the now of Jesus’ reign wherever His will is done. Praying “Your kingdom come” means yielding today’s choices to His authority. When His reality defines ours, obedience becomes the doorway to freedom, not a burden. [38:51]
3. Let Jesus drive, stop backseat control Most want Jesus to steer until He turns toward forgiveness, generosity, or restraint. Surrender means trusting His “no” and His timing, especially when it confronts comfort. Real lordship replaces selective obedience with yielded direction. [43:48]
4. Align life by F.I.R.S.T. priorities Finances, Interests, Relationships, Schedules, Trials—these are the battlegrounds of first place. Honor Him with wealth, curate your inputs, pursue equally yoked unity, and build prayerful rhythms. In crisis, run to God first, not last. [44:10]
5. Resist the enemy’s subtle drift The enemy rarely shouts; he nudges—scarcity, scrolling, schedules—to inch God off the top spot. Discernment grows as calendars and wallets become acts of worship. Small daily choices either cultivate presence with God or erode it. [58:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:54] - New Year kickoff and alignment theme
[37:21] - Seek first the Kingdom
[38:51] - Kingdom defined: Jesus in charge now
[40:10] - The car of your life: who’s in it?
[43:48] - Letting Jesus truly drive
[44:10] - Introducing the F.I.R.S.T. framework
[46:21] - F: Finances—treasure and heart
[48:42] - I: Interests—glory to God
[50:18] - R: Relationships under Christ’s will
[52:46] - When life gets real (NICU testimony)
[54:46] - S: Schedules and sacred rhythms
[56:59] - T: Trials and where Satan attacks
[59:27] - Give God the top spot—test Him
[60:17] - Trust and direction: Proverbs 3:5–6

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Observation questions

In Matthew 6:33, what is the command and what is the promise attached to that command?
How was the kingdom of God defined in simple terms? “The kingdom of God is what the world looks like when Jesus Christ is in charge.” [39:02]
In the “car of your life” picture, what different places could Jesus be (trunk, back seat, passenger, driver), and why does that placement matter? “Is Jesus Christ in the driver’s seat of your life?” [42:36]
What five fronts does the F.I.R.S.T. check cover? “It’s right in the name, F I R S T.” [44:10]

Interpretation questions

When Matthew says “seek first,” what does “first” mean—priority of authority or just being busy with religious things? “God wants to be first place in your life…that means everything else comes second or lower.” [38:05]
Why might a person say they want Jesus to lead, and then resist when He turns toward forgiveness or generosity? “Everybody wants to let Jesus take the wheel until he has to stretch you.” [43:48]
How does checking Finances, Interests, Relationships, Schedules, and Trials reveal where someone’s true allegiance sits? “This is where [the enemy] is attacking you…F I R S T.” [57:42]
What might it look like, practically, for a person to “seek his will in all you do” this week? “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” [01:00:17]

Application questions

The car of your life: Where is Jesus today—trunk, back seat, passenger, or driver? What one decision this week needs to move Him into the driver’s seat? “Is Jesus Christ in the driver’s seat of your life?” [42:36]
Finances: What is one concrete step to honor the Lord with your wealth—building a budget, starting percentage-giving, paying a debt down, or sharing with someone in need? “Honor the Lord with your wealth.” [47:34]
Interests: Where does your time and attention drift—sports, shows, news, scrolling? Pick one practice to bring under Jesus’ leadership this week (e.g., screen limits, one “no-scroll” hour, praying before posting). “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” [48:42]
Relationships: If dating, what does being “equally yoked” require of you right now? If married, what’s one way to bring your union under Christ’s will (praying together, forgiving, serving)? “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.” [51:48]
Schedules: Partial faithfulness isn’t faithfulness. What daily/weekly rhythm will you set for prayer, Scripture, and gathered worship? Be specific about time and place. “Partial faithfulness isn’t really faithfulness at all.” [55:50]
Trials: When pressure hits, what is your first move—panic, phone a friend, or prayer? Identify one trigger and pre-plan a “run to God first” response. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.” [57:18]
Backseat driving: Where might Jesus be saying “no” or “not yet,” and you’re still coaching from the back seat? What obedient step will you take to surrender that area today? “Everybody wants to let Jesus take the wheel until he has to stretch you.” [43:48]

Sermon Clips

But I'm here to tell you guys this morning that changing your circumstances is not the same thing as changing your alignment. Just like changing my tires didn't keep my car from smashing into that median, that weight loss goal or those plans to be more present with your family or those career goals are all diminished until you put your relationship with Jesus Christ in the top spot. [00:36:50] (28 seconds) #AlignmentOverChange

God wants to be first place. First place in your life. No exceptions. He wants to be first place in your life. Notice I didn't say god wants to be very important to you. I didn't say God wants to be on your mind all the time. I didn't say that. I said God wants to be first place in your life. That means everything else comes second or lower. Right? [00:37:53] (29 seconds) #GodFirstAlways

Is the kingdom of god just like a place that we're gonna eventually see when when we get to heaven and we go meet Jesus? The kingdom of god is just like far out there. We're gonna we're gonna see it one day. I don't think so. I don't think so. I think that the kingdom of god speaks to god's reality right now. I'll put it easy for you. Here's the definition. The kingdom of God is what the world looks like when Jesus Christ is in charge. I'll say that again. The kingdom of God is what the world looks like when Jesus Christ is in charge. [00:38:31] (37 seconds) #KingdomNow

There's a lot of folks who are happy to make Jesus their savior, but lord, we need a savior, right, to avoid hell, but we don't want a lord who can help us avoid our hell on earth. We're like a baby that fights getting their diaper changed. We fight god for control of our mess. God, y'all understand. This mess is comfortable. This mess is familiar. It's mine, god. It's mine. [00:39:39] (30 seconds) #SaviorAndLord

Going down the the road of forgiveness. Oh, yeah. No. I don't wanna do that. Let's let's go a different direction, Jesus. I don't wanna do that. Jesus starts going right. Jesus, where are you going, man? What what are you what are you doing? Oh, I'm going down the road of generosity. Woah. Woah. Have you been down there? No. Lock the doors, Jesus. What are doing? It's ghetto down there. I'm not trying to go down there. Everybody wants to let Jesus take the wheel until he has to stretch you, until he has to change you, until he tells you no about something that you really, really want. [00:43:23] (40 seconds) #NoBackseatFaith

we're talking about your finances. We're talking about your finances right now because God will not settle for second place in your life. He's the God of your mind. He's the God of your soul. He's the God of your heart. God of your hands, feet, eyes, mouth. You cannot call Jesus Christ your lord and savior and draw a line in the sand when it comes to your finances. You can't do that. [00:45:44] (33 seconds) #GodFirstFinances

Can I get even more real for a second? Does Jesus take a backseat to your politics? You ever been on True Social or X or Facebook, and you're really giving it to somebody on there? You know what I mean? And the holy spirit says, hey. Don't type that. Erase that. What are you doing? He said, but Jesus, I'm I'm I'm getting him right now. He needs to feel my wrath. You gotta put him first. He wants to be first. [00:49:48] (34 seconds) #FaithBeforePolitics

He wants to have you spend all your time scrolling and none of your time praying. He wants you to undo that sense of peace and security that you get from that godly relationship with your spouse and replace it with worries. He wants to fill up your schedule more and more and more and more. So when you say, man, I don't have time to go to church, seems legitimate. Seems legit. [00:58:34] (34 seconds) #ScrollLessPrayMore

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Putting God in the Driver’s Seat

Devotional

Day 1: Seek First: Alignment Over Adjustments and Resolutions

Day 2: First in Finances: Treasure Reveals the Heart

Day 3: Christ Over Interests, Hobbies, and Politics

Day 4: Put God First in Your Schedule and Rhythm

Day 5: First in Trials: Run to the Strong Tower

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Putting God in the Driver’s Seat

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