Lost Remotes, Lost Keys, Lost Glasses, Lost Phones: How to Keep Jesus Off the Lost List

I just lost my raincoat. And I’d just bought it to replace the one I’d previously lost.

If you’re like me and most of us, you lose lots of stuff, too. One study suggests we spend 2 ½ days each year looking lost stuff. Most often, we’re searching for TV remotes, phones, keys, and glasses.

I hate to admit that in my home, lost keys have been found in our car (running), lost glasses have been found on our heads, and lost casseroles have been found splattered along the driveway (after being placed on the roof of the car and not being transferred to a seat before driving off).

What makes things even worse is that every time I lose something, I hear my mother’s words in my head:

“A place for everything, and everything in its place.”

Obviously, anyone who says that doesn’t realize how demanding and busy my life is. And your life as well, I’m sure. How often do we just drop and run rather than put something where it goes? And pretty soon, we may not even make a place for something. It just ends up where it ends up.

Even when it’s Jesus.

No Room for Jesus

You may have already discovered that if you don’t make a place for Jesus in your life, you might go to look for him and wonder where he’s gone. You may first notice he’s missing when you find yourself increasingly anxious, impatient, and irritable, since Jesus brings the gifts of peace, patience, and kindness with him.

Why do we quit making a place for Jesus, you ask:

• Some of us quit making a place for Jesus because he’s disappointed us. Perhaps someone we love is suffering, and Jesus hasn’t provided healing. Or perhaps as we look at the evil in this world, we think Jesus isn’t doing his job.

• Some of us quit making a place for Jesus because he’s confused us. We’ve seen something online that challenges some part of Christianity, and we don’t know know what to make of it.

• Some of us quit making a place for Jesus because we’ve put other stuff before him. We don’t take his words seriously that we are to put Jesus first, before all else (Matthew 6:33).

• Some of us quit making a place for Jesus because we’ve assumed that since we told Jesus once that we wanted to follow him, we were set for the rest of our earthly lives.

Making Room for Jesus

Whatever the reason we’ve not made room for Jesus, however, there is one failsafe remedy:

It’s inviting Jesus back into your life, as described over and over again in scripture:

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8).

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (Jeremiah 33:3).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).

If you want Jesus back from the spiritual Lost and Found, go get him. In other words, make a place for him by scheduling consistent time with him. You’ll find that he doesn’t have to check his appointment book before meeting with you. He’s just a prayer away.

Most likely, your love for Jesus has grown lukewarm, so ask him to reignite your passion for him. Then open your Bible and start reading. I’d suggest starting in the book of John and reading from it, even aloud. You don’t need to read a certain number of verses each day. Just read until something in the text jumps up and grabs you by your shoulders. Read until you feel so thankful for Jesus that your heart might burst.

Then write a personal thank you note to Jesus. Writing does take more time than thinking, but writing keeps you awake and focused. You don’t need a “journal”—just a notebook will do. Include what Jesus is teaching you, as well as any insights into yourself. This means you have to spend a bit time in silence, asking Jesus to speak into your heart.

Pick a time that works for you each day. For me, that’s right after I get ready in the morning. It’s not so much the time of day as it is being consistent. Your time with Jesus should become as much a habit as brushing your teeth or paying your bills.

Yes, making a place for Jesus takes time. But making a place for ANYTHING takes time. It may feel like a sacrifice in the beginning, but meeting with Jesus will become the joy of your life. You will discover that no matter how many other things you drop and run, Jesus will not again be one of them.