Welcome to Christ’s Community Church! We are in a series titled "Habits of a Healthy Heart." Today, our focus is on relationships and prioritizing our relationship with Jesus. This is vital because every day, as you engage in various relationships, whether within your family, socially, in the workplace, or the community, you will encounter both healthy and unhealthy relationships. However, there is one relationship you should prioritize nurturing and developing: your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as we lay the foundation for this message today, let’s begin by defining what it means to be healthy. According to dictionary.com, healthy means:

“Possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality” (dictionary.com).

When I think of health, I’m reminded of Caleb, who spoke about enjoying good health upon entering the promised land, saying,

“Here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then” (Joshua 14:10-11).

Caleb credited his strength and vitality to God’s faithfulness and provision.

Last week, we discussed Joshua and Caleb and their testimony to God’s faithfulness in contrast to the ten who doubted it. We observed how the people who influence you and speak into your life can be your greatest asset or your worst curse.

The right people will lift you up and encourage you both spiritually and emotionally, while the wrong ones can distract you, poison your mind, and even destroy your life. Unfortunately, unhealthy relationships are all too familiar in our culture today. Wherever we look, we see individuals threatening to infect us with sinful attitudes, spiritual sickness, and even death.

This is why the Apostle Paul warns, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character'" (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV).

Such individuals—what the Bible calls bad company—drag you to their level with their judgmental, critical, gossiping, or complaining attitudes. Others pressure you into compromising situations or ungodly behavior, tempting you away from God’s best. Consider the Israelites in Exodus; even after being delivered from slavery, they grumbled and complained. This is why we should:

"Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly" (2 Timothy 2:16, NIV).

These unhealthy relationships spread quickly, cutting off life and corrupting otherwise healthy individuals, leading to their eventual destruction.

As followers of Jesus, our goal in all our relationships should always be peacemakers and ministers of reconciliation, bringing faith, hope, and love to life in others. However, we can’t help others if we are spiritually weak. Thus, to protect ourselves from unhealthy relationships, we must set boundaries to preserve the good and keep out the bad. While not all people are entirely harmful, certain aspects of their relationship with you can endanger your spiritual health.

Therefore, while setting boundaries may initially seem unloving, I want you to notice that even Jesus modeled this practice. Although Jesus loved everyone equally, He didn’t treat everyone the same. For example, He chose twelve disciples rather than accepting as many as would come. Sometimes, He healed only a few people before moving on and leaving the rest. Indeed, He established boundaries with the Pharisees, keeping them at arm’s length, and even with His closest friends, He didn’t let them keep Him from His purpose.

For example, when Peter tried to stop Him from fulfilling His mission, Jesus replied:

"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23, NIV).

Jesus’ boundaries safeguarded His focus on God’s will. At times, He found it necessary to withdraw from His disciples to seek the presence of His Father and renew His strength for ministry.

Similarly, we must set boundaries to protect our spiritual well-being and fulfill our calling, as intimacy in any relationship—whether with God, family, or friends—requires effort. However, if we allow the world to dictate our schedules, we will miss out on meaningful connections with those God has called us to love. Yet, without building trust and spending quality time together, intimacy cannot grow.

The same principle applies to our relationship with God. In over 20 years of ministry, I have never met anyone close to God and didn’t intentionally spend time with Him. In other words, those who display the fruit of the Spirit—"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control"—are always intentional about nurturing their relationship with God (Galatians 5:22-23). This type of spiritual growth doesn’t occur accidentally; it requires intentionality.

And so, throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus withdrawing from the crowds, avoiding distractions, and seeking His Father in solitude. Mark describes this, saying that,

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: 'Everyone is looking for You!'" (Mark 1:35-37, NIV).

Those of you who are parents can certainly relate to this, understanding why Jesus made going off to a solitary place a priority. Over the years, Dana has often joked that the only place where she can find peace is in the bathroom, and yet still little fingers reach under the door, and the bigger ones pound on the door persistently like the police delivering an arrest warrant.

Sometimes, it’s hard to get away. We keep pouring ourselves out, getting kids ready, managing our work schedules, running errands, and juggling bills and chores. No wonder many of us feel like we are running on empty.

Those of you in ministry understand the weariness of being “poured out.” We can relate to the apostle Paul, who wrote near the end of his life:

"I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure" (2 Timothy 4:6, NIV).

Like Paul, our schedules often overflow, and our spiritual cups feel empty, yet you cannot pour out if you’re not filled first.

For that reason, Jesus, who bore the most significant burden in history, exemplified the practice of withdrawing to be with His Father. Even before His ministry began, Jesus spent 40 days in solitude. Luke tells us that immediately following His baptism in water and the Holy Spirit,

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil" (Luke 4:1-2, NIV).

Upon returning from the wilderness, Jesus ministered in the power of the Spirit, and news of Him spread quickly.

"Crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:15-16, NIV).

Even though the needs around Him were significant and the weight of responsibility rested entirely on His shoulders, Jesus prioritized time alone with God. He intentionally withdrew to lonely places even as the demands on Him grew.

Fully aware of the brevity of His time on earth,

"Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. He sought the guidance of His Father before selecting the disciples, and when morning came, He called His disciples to Himself and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles" (Luke 6:12-13, NIV).

Whether retreating after a long day of ministry or seeking the wisdom of His Father, Jesus repeatedly sought desolate and quiet places to pray and be refreshed in His Father’s presence. He consistently demonstrated the importance of pausing, creating quiet space, and withdrawing into God’s presence because you can’t pour out if you don’t first fill up.

This is why God created us with this rhythm in mind, telling us:

"There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord" (Leviticus 23:3, NIV).

Many people neglect gathering with the church, but notice He gave us “a day of sacred assembly.” In other words, the seventh day is a gift, a necessity, and a vital time for rest and renewal when we are weak and depleted.

That’s what Jesus meant when He said,

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27, NIV).

In other words, it’s for our good. Some of you may feel poured out because you have been giving without being filled by God’s Word, sustained by His presence, or strengthened by His Spirit.

When I discover that the way I am doing ministry is threatening my intimacy with God—when I’ve been pouring out so much but I’m afraid to slow down, rest, and recover—that’s when I know it’s time to stop and reevaluate my priorities. The challenge I face in my busyness is one that many of you may also experience: believing that your worth comes from your accomplishments. Yet the Lord doesn’t say, “Be busy, be responsible, be disciplined, or even be successful and know God.” Instead, it says:

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, NIV).

In the original Hebrew, “be still” means to cease striving. In other words, our knowledge of God—our intimacy with Him—is not based on our performance.

Just take a moment to think about Jesus because before He preached a word or performed a miracle, His Father said:

"You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22, NIV).

In other words, God loved Jesus for who He was, not for what He did. And in the same way, God loves us for who we are; He wants to spend time with us. So, how can we develop this habit of meeting with God in our busy lives?

Well, intimacy with God requires intentionality. Jesus emphasized the importance of finding a quiet and secluded place—not to be seen by others or to impress anyone with our devotion—but to genuinely connect with God. He said,

"When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:6, NIV).

In other words, when you remove distractions, seek His presence, and approach God honestly, the focus shifts from yourself to Him. In that moment, you will start to sense His grace like never before.

I will be honest with you: in my own life, in my journey with Jesus, when my prayers shifted from complaining, “I can’t do this. I can’t handle this,” to worship where I declared, “God, You are good, You will never leave me nor forsake me, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Suddenly, I found myself encouraged in the Lord, finding comfort in Him, relying on His promises, and trusting in His faithfulness. This has become my habit as I pray daily, worship, meditate on Scripture, and remind myself of God’s character and faithfulness.

When we intentionally seek the Lord, our focus shifts from our struggles to His strength. However, this won’t happen by accident; it involves finding a quiet place free from distractions, connecting with your Father purposefully, and anchoring yourself in the truth of who God is, even when external circumstances feel overwhelming. Yet, none of this occurs without intentional planning, as intimacy with God requires deliberate effort.

We have been discussing the habits of a healthy heart, so can I encourage you to make this your habit? Be intentional in finding a time and place to seek God, whether kneeling by your bed, sitting on your couch, or at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. It could be the first thing in the morning, at the end of the day, or during an extended lunch break. But choose a time and strive for consistency because habits are formed over time.

Let me encourage you to know that being intentional doesn’t mean perfection; it means priority. Even if you only begin with a few minutes each day, treat it like a spiritual retreat because you can’t pour out unless you are filled up. So, take some time to focus, talk to God, read His word, and then listen. The Lord said in the Scriptures,

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, NIV).

In other words, allow your soul to soak in the presence of God, building a bond that nourishes, restores, and sustains you in this life and for eternity.

This is your opportunity to be intentional and express your desire for a relationship with God. As the psalmist said,

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2, NIV).

For some of you, your soul might cry out, "I’m afraid because I can’t pay my bills, I’m afraid for my kids, I’m afraid for my marriage." In these moments, follow Scripture’s guidance and

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).

Just be honest with God and let your soul cry out to Him. It might say, "I feel all alone, I am hurting, and I feel far from You." Or you might say, "I’m sorry for neglecting You. I have forgotten my first love, and I’m ashamed and sorry for falling in love with the world instead of Your kingdom."

David cried out to the Lord and said,

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalms 51:2, NIV).

Even if your soul says, "God, I am mad at You. I asked for help, and You didn’t answer." That’s okay because God can handle your anger.

For others of you, the cry of your soul may be, "I need You now more than ever." And I confess, that has often been my prayer because I have learned that without intentionality, the world will squeeze out your time with God, leaving you no time or space for Him. That’s when I discovered that you cannot keep pouring out without first filling up in His presence.

When I finally cried out, saying, "I can’t do it anymore," God gently responded:

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

Some of you think, “Well, you don’t know my schedule; I don’t have time for that.” But let me encourage you to make time before it becomes an emergency because you will always have time for what you choose to prioritize. You can either make excuses or know God intimately, but not both.

Therefore, your relationship with God, above all other relationships, needs to be your intentional pursuit. Being still in His presence needs to become your habit, and when you do, Jesus promises:

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you" (John 15:4, NIV).

That is why the habit of going to God and being still in His presence is so important. When you shift your focus from yourself and back to Him, you realize that He is always enough and is all you ever need.

It’s in that quiet place as we connect with God that the Bible promises,

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children" (Romans 8:16, NIV).

As we wrap up today’s message, let me encourage you to take this to heart because intimacy with God will not happen by coincidence; it is the result of intentional pursuit. Just as Jesus made it a priority to withdraw, to be still, and to connect with His Heavenly Father, so must we. In the busyness of life, we cannot keep pouring out without first being filled by His Spirit.

So, let’s choose to slow down, pause, and carve out that necessary time to still our hearts and to seek Him in that quiet place intentionally. Remember, in those moments of stillness, our souls are refreshed, our hearts are restored, and our purpose is renewed. May we go from here committed to making our relationship with God our most excellent habit, transforming our lives, and drawing us closer to the One who was always enough. Let us be intentional in remaining in Him, trusting that He will fill, guide, and sustain us as we seek to live for His glory.

Graphics, notes, and commentary from LifeChurch, Ministry Pass, PC Study Bible, Preaching Library, and Sermon Central. Scripture from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.