Don't Miss Jesus: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Don't Miss Jesus" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: The Heart Thief

Based on the Message: "Don't Miss Jesus" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

Devotional: Have you ever watched someone slowly lose themselves to something that seemed harmless at first? Maybe it was a hobby that consumed all their time, a relationship that became unhealthy, or a pursuit that promised fulfillment but left them empty. We all have a tendency to give our hearts away to things that can't truly satisfy us.

Jesus understood this human struggle when He warned us about where we place our treasure. It's not that material things, career success, or even relationships are inherently bad - it's that they can gradually steal our hearts away from the One who created us for relationship with Him. When our car becomes our identity, our appearance becomes our worth, or our comfort zone becomes our god, we've allowed good things to become ultimate things.

The truth is whatever captures our heart's attention becomes our focus. If we treasure our reputation, we'll spend countless hours managing our image. If we treasure our career, we'll sacrifice relationships for success. But when we treasure God, our hearts naturally turn toward Him, and everything else finds its proper place.

This isn't about living a joyless life or rejecting all earthly pleasures. It's about recognizing that our hearts are designed for something greater than temporary treasures. We were created for relationship with the eternal God who loves us beyond measure.

Quote: "We are all prone to giving our hearts away to the stuff of earth." - Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What earthly treasure or pursuit has been gradually capturing more of your heart's attention, and how might God be inviting you to redirect that focus toward Him?

Prayer: Lord, help me recognize the things that are slowly stealing my heart away from You. Give me wisdom to see where I've made good things into ultimate things, and grace to realign my treasures with Your eternal purposes. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2: The Relentless Pursuer

Based on the Message: "Don't Miss Jesus" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." - Luke 19:10

Devotional: There's something beautiful about being pursued by someone who truly loves you. Not in a creepy, obsessive way, but in the way that shows genuine care and desire for relationship. Maybe you've experienced this in a friendship where someone kept reaching out even when you were distant, or in a romantic relationship where someone saw your worth even when you couldn't see it yourself. This is exactly how God pursues us.

From the moment He created the first humans, through every rebellion and rejection, through every season of our lives, He has never stopped seeking our hearts. Even when we've given our affection to other things, even when we've ignored His voice, even when we've run in the opposite direction - He keeps pursuing.

His pursuit isn’t desperate or uncertain; it’s steady, intentional, and loving. He knows our true worth because He created us. He knows what will truly satisfy us because He designed us for relationship with Him. His love isn't based on our performance or our ability to get our act together. It's based on His unchanging character and His desire for intimate relationship with us.

The amazing thing is that this pursuit continues today. Right now, as you read these words, God is pursuing your heart. He's not waiting for you to become perfect or to figure everything out. He's actively working in your life, drawing you closer to Himself through His persistent, relentless love.

Quote: "God has always been and is now after your heart. He hasn't stopped. He's still pursuing you and He wants your heart."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: In what ways have you experienced God's persistent pursuit in your life, and how does knowing He's still pursuing you today change your perspective on your relationship with Him?

Prayer: Father, thank You for never giving up on me. Help me recognize Your persistent love and pursuit in my daily life. Open my heart to respond to Your invitation for deeper relationship. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 3: No Substitutes Accepted

Based on the Message: "Don't Miss Jesus" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." - 1 John 4:3

Devotional: We live in a world of knockoffs and substitutes. Generic brands promise the same quality as name brands. Artificial sweeteners claim to taste just like sugar. Social media relationships attempt to replace face-to-face connection. But when it comes to the most important things in life, substitutes rarely satisfy. The same is true when it comes to Jesus.

In our search for meaning, purpose, and spiritual connection, we might be tempted to accept substitutes - a version of Jesus that fits our preferences, confirms our biases, or makes us comfortable. Maybe it's a Jesus who only loves and never challenges, or a Jesus who only judges and never shows mercy. Perhaps it's a Jesus who aligns perfectly with our political views or cultural preferences. But these substitutes will always leave us wanting because they're not the real thing.

The authentic Jesus is both holy and compassionate, both loving and just, both gentle and strong. He doesn't fit neatly into our human categories because He transcends them all. He challenges our hearts while offering grace, calls us to repentance while providing hope.

When we settle for a substitute Jesus, we miss out on the transformative power of knowing the real One. The authentic Jesus offers something no substitute can provide - genuine relationship with the God of the universe, real forgiveness for our failures, and true hope that never disappoints. Why settle for a knockoff when you can have the real thing?

Quote: "There is no substitute for the authentic Jesus."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What version or substitute of Jesus have you been tempted to accept, and what would it look like to seek the authentic Jesus instead?

Prayer: Jesus, help me reject any substitute versions of who You are. Give me a hunger for the authentic You - in all Your holiness, compassion, and truth. Show me where I've tried to remake You in my own image. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 4: Making Room for What Matters

Based on the Message: "Don't Miss Jesus" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."- Matthew 15:8

Devotional: Have you ever tried to pack for a trip and realized your suitcase was already full of things you didn't really need? You had to make hard choices about what to leave behind to make room for what was essential. Our hearts work the same way - they have limited capacity, and what we fill them with determines what we have room for.

When our hearts become cluttered with the pursuit of material things, status, or temporary pleasures, we gradually lose space for what truly matters. Relationships suffer because we're too busy managing our stuff. Our connection with God weakens because our minds are occupied with earthly concerns. Our ability to serve others diminishes because we're focused on serving ourselves.

This isn't about living a minimalist lifestyle or rejecting all earthly goods. It's about recognizing that our hearts need space for the things that bring lasting joy and meaning. When we declutter our hearts from excessive attachment to temporary things, we create room for deeper relationships, spiritual growth, and genuine contentment.

God wants to fill our hearts with His love, peace, and purpose. But He won't force His way into a heart that's already packed full of other treasures. He waits patiently for us to make room, to choose what truly matters, and to prioritize the eternal over the temporary. What might you need to remove from your heart to make room for more of Him?

Quote: "They had given so much of their heart to the stuff that they didn't have enough room for the things that really mattered."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: What has filled your heart so much that you don't have enough room for the things that really matter, and what practical steps can you take to create more space for God?

Prayer: Lord, help me see what's cluttering my heart and keeping me from You. Give me the courage to let go of things that don't truly matter so I can make room for Your love and purposes in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 5: The Ultimate Question

Based on the Message: "Don't Miss Jesus" by Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

"But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?"- Matthew 16:15

Devotional: Some questions change everything. "Will you marry me?" "Do you want this job?" "Are you ready to have children?" These questions demand a response that shapes the direction of our lives. Jesus asked His disciples a question that was even more significant: "Who do you say I am?" This wasn't a theological pop quiz or an intellectual exercise. It revealed the heart of God to be truly known by those who claimed relationship with Him. It was the most important question they would ever answer because their response revealed the condition of their hearts and determined their eternal destiny.

The same question echoes through the centuries to each of us today. In our age of misinformation and competing voices, this question becomes even more crucial. Everyone has an opinion about who Jesus is - teacher, prophet, good man, myth, or revolutionary. But what matters isn't what others say or what's popular or politically correct. What matters is your personal answer based on your relationship with Him.

Your answer to this question reveals whether you truly know Him or just know about Him. It shows whether you're willing to surrender your heart fully to His love and lordship, or if you're still trying to keep Him at arm's length. The beautiful truth is that when we answer correctly - not just with our minds but with our hearts - everything changes.

We discover that He's not just a historical figure or religious concept, but the living God who loves us and wants relationship with us. So today, He asks you the same question He asked His first followers: Who do you say I am?

Quote: "God cares so deeply about your heart that He made it a condition for your salvation."- Pastor Lindsey Upshaw

Question: If Jesus asked you directly, "Who do you say I am?" how would you answer, and does your daily life reflect that answer?

Prayer: Jesus, help me answer Your question not just with my words but with my whole life. Show me who You really are and give me the courage to live as if I know the real You. In Jesus' name, Amen.