“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” -Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let me give you a little front-porch truth this morning.

Solomon had tried it all. Wealth. Wisdom. Work. Wine. Women. Building projects. Influence. If Amazon had been around back then, he could’ve bought it. If social media had existed, he would’ve trended every day. And after all of it—after the applause faded and the parties ended—he came to one simple conclusion.

Fear God.

Keep His commandments.

That’s it.

Isn’t it amazing how we complicate what God has made simple?

We think life is about climbing higher, earning more, proving something, being seen, being validated. But Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said, “Let me save you some time. Here’s the whole matter.”

Reverence God.

Obey God.

Not because He’s harsh—but because He’s holy.

Not because He’s distant—but because He’s good.

When you fear God, you put Him in His rightful place.

When you keep His commandments, your life finds its rightful path.

And here’s the beautiful part: a life centered on God is never wasted. It may not always be flashy. It may not always be loud. But it will be steady. It will be anchored. It will matter.

So today, before you chase another thing, make sure you’re chasing the right One.

Fear God.

Walk with Him.

Obey Him.

That’s not a small life.

That’s the whole life.

“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” -1 Chronicles 16:11 (KJV)

Let me give you something to carry with you today.

The Bible doesn’t say, “Seek success.”

It doesn’t say, “Seek applause.”

It doesn’t even say, “Seek relief.”

It says, “Seek the Lord and his strength.”

That tells me something. There are going to be moments when mine isn’t enough.

There are days when your body feels tired, your mind feels stretched, and your heart feels heavy. And in those moments, the answer isn’t to push harder — it’s to lean deeper.

David wrote this during a season of celebration, but he understood something powerful: victories don’t remove our need for God. If anything, they remind us of it.

Notice the wording:

Seek His strength. Seek His face continually.

Not occasionally. Not when you’re desperate. Continually.

That means in the quiet mornings with coffee in your hand.

That means in the middle of a busy afternoon.

That means when the news isn’t good and when the news is better than expected.

You don’t just seek His hand for what He can give.

You seek His face because you want Him.

And here’s the beautiful truth:

When you seek His face, you find His strength.

When you draw near to Him, He steadies you.

So today, don’t try to muscle through life on your own.

Slow down. Lift your eyes. Whisper His name.

Seek the Lord.

And you’ll find the strength you didn’t know you had — because it was never yours to begin with.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” -John 14:6

Let me give you a front-porch thought this morning.

We live in a world with a thousand voices telling us which road to take. Turn here. Try this. Follow your heart. Trust yourself. And if we’re not careful, we can end up spiritually exhausted, standing at a crossroads, wondering which direction actually leads home.

Then Jesus speaks — not with confusion, not with options, but with clarity.

“I am the way.”

Not a way. Not one of many paths winding up the same mountain. He didn’t hand us a map. He handed us Himself.

When you don’t know what to do next, you follow Him.

When culture shifts, opinions change, and truth feels negotiable, He says, “I am the truth.”

When you feel drained, worn thin, and spiritually empty, He says, “I am the life.”

Friend, your peace isn’t found in figuring everything out. It’s found in following the One who already has.

If you’ll walk with Jesus today — trust Him, lean into Him, stay close to Him — you’re not wandering. You’re not lost. You’re not guessing.

You’re on the Way.

And the Way always leads home.