PART 1: THE THRONE (Days 1–6)

Welcome to the first phase of your journey. These daily devotionals are designed to help you move from a life centered on "self" to a life where Jesus Christ holds the supreme position in everything you do. Maturity begins when we stop asking God to join our journey and start surrendering our lives to His. Over the next few days, we will look at your heart’s pursuit, your spiritual nourishment, your daily purpose, and your level of dependency on His power.

— DAY 1 —

Monday 2 February, 2026

THE POWER OF YOUR PURSUIT

(First Love)

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

Matthew 22:37-38
”Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Revelation 2:4-5
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

COMMENT

Jesus is the source of all things! He is where every answer is found and where the true abundance of life begins. His love for us is beyond comprehension, always drawing us back to what matters most. While our hearts can sometimes wander, like magnets pulled toward the distractions of life, the Word of God is a beautiful gift that helps us realign our focus and find our way back to Him.

An honest "heart audit" isn't meant to discourage us, but to invite us into a deeper life where we stop the exhausting work of building our own kingdoms and start resting in His. The invitation is to let Jesus be our "First Love" once again. Rather than treating Him like a passenger who is along for the ride, we can find incredible peace in handing Him the steering wheel. Because He is the Lord of everything, He doesn't just want a seat in the car. He offers to be the steady centre of our hearts, where we were always meant to find our home.

In the rush of daily life, putting God first means everything else finally finds its rightful place. When we let Him take the driver’s seat and release the burden of our own agendas, we discover the peace we’ve been searching for all along. The "abundant life" Jesus promised is a beautiful reality that opens up to us the moment we surrender control and simply return to Him.

WHAT CHANGES WHEN JESUS IS IN FIRST PLACE

New Purpose: Even boring chores or hard work feel different when you do them for Him. You aren't just working for a paycheck; you’re serving a King.

More Stability: When your joy is tied to God rather than your circumstances, a bad day or a difficult person won't ruin your peace. You have an anchor that holds.

A Living Example: When people see you choose kindness over being right, or honesty over a shortcut, they see a glimpse of God’s love in action.

Less Stress: When He is the driver, you don't have to carry the heavy burden of "figuring it all out." You can rest knowing He is navigating the big picture.

His Glory: By letting Him lead, you show the world that God isn't just a rulebook. He is a loving Father who is actually worth following.

The Bottom Line: By inviting us to return to our "First Love," He isn't trying to take away our fun or our freedom. He is leading us away from the things that empty us and toward the abundant life that only He can provide.

THE FIRST LOVE SELF-ASSESSMENT

Pick the number that best describes where you feel you’re at right now. Wherever you are, pray about what might be your next step to move forward.

1 — Occasional Priority: Jesus is part of my life, but my primary pursuit is my career, my comfort, or my personal goals. I turn to Him when I need help, but He is not the driver of my daily choices.

2 — Competing Loyalties: I love the Lord, but I am often distracted by "good" things (hobbies, social status, entertainment). I find myself constantly trying to balance my faith with my own desires, and my desires often win.

3 — Developing Devotion: I am intentionally reordering my life so that Jesus is the centre. I am learning to say "no" to things that hinder my walk, and I am finding that my hunger for Him is starting to outweigh my hunger for the world.

4 — Singular Pursuit: Like Paul, I count everything as loss compared to the "surpassing worth" of knowing Christ. My life is not about my own success; it is a relentless pursuit of His presence and His will above all other ambitions.

MAIN QUESTIONS
(Self Reflection)

Let’s Talk in the Chat
(on the Boot Camp group in Planning Center)

One of the best parts of this journey is that we aren’t doing it alone. We’d love for our chat to be a place of real connection. As you go through each day, please jump in and share:

Self-Reflection: What did the "test" reveal to you today?
God’s Voice: What is one specific thing you feel the Holy Spirit is whispering to your heart?
The Wins: Did you do the "First Five" minutes of silence? Tell us about it!
First Love: What does God being your “first love” mean to you?

Please Read:
Don't worry about sounding 'spiritual' The most encouraging thing you can share is your honest process. This is a self-reflection about what God is speaking directly to you about in YOUR life. Words like “I” and “Me” are encouraged, “we” and “us” less so.

ACTION POINTS

1. The First Five: Give God the first five minutes of your day in silence before checking your phone.
2. The "Why" Audit: Before a major task today, ask yourself: "Am I doing this for my glory or God's?"
3. Clear the Space: Identify one hobby or habit that is currently a "competing loyalty" and set it aside for 24 hours.

PERSONAL PRAYER STARTER
"Lord, I’ll be honest—my heart wanders. I get so distracted by my own to-do list and my own desires. Today, I’m asking You to take the driver’s seat. Help me to want You more than I want success or comfort. Be the centre of everything I do today. Amen."

14 DAYS OF PRAYER (Corporate Prayer)
FAMILY - Pray for strong families. Pray against division and spiritual attack and speak the favour of God over families.