What’s at the Center of Your Life?

by Rick Warren — August 23, 2022
From The Foundation of a Life Well-Lived

“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.”

Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

God wants to be at the very center of your life. He doesn’t want to be on the edge of your life, and he doesn’t want to be just a segment of your life. The God of the universe—the God who made you and loves you—wants to be the hub of your heart and the axis of your existence.

Here’s another way to look at it: God wants to have a love relationship with you.

The Bible says, “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” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV).

The truth is, you’re going to center your life around something. You may center it around your career, your family, or your hobbies. You may center it around making money or being popular.

But putting anything besides God at the center of your life is an idol. Exodus 20:3-4 says, “You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea” (NLT).

How do you know when something has taken center stage in your life instead of God? It’s simple. When God’s not at the center of your life, you start to worry and stress out; you get fearful. These are the warning lights that God is no longer the nucleus of your heart.

In contrast, how can you tell when your life is centered on God? You’re at peace. You stop worrying. The Bible says, “A sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:7 The Message).

Ask yourself this: “What’s going to be the center of my life for the rest of my life?”

It’s the most important thing you will ever have to decide.

Talk It Over

  • In what ways are you tempted to make things or people the center of your life?
  • What’s your life like when it’s not centered on God?
  • Describe how you’ve felt during times when you’ve centered your life on God.

Are you ready to receive God’s forgiveness and start a new life with Christ?

God wants to be at the center of your life—and that can start when you accept his offer of salvation. God promised that for those who believe in Jesus, there is no condemnation. He sent Jesus to save you from your sins. His death on the cross paid for every wrong you’ve ever done or will do. And by sacrificing himself for your sins and giving you his righteousness, Jesus made it possible for you to have a relationship with God the Father.

The good news doesn’t stop there. God also raised Jesus from the dead, proving his power over sin and death. And that makes it possible for you to spend eternity with him in heaven.

If you’re ready to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, start by praying this simple prayer: “Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that he died for my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust him as my Savior and follow him as Lord. I want you to be the center of my life from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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