About Sunday Morning Jetpack
Sunday Morning Jetpack is a segment that highlights any kind of media that will provide you with some much needed good energy. You can find spirituality in the music, movies, podcasts, and other media you see every day. This article expands the Sunday Morning Jetpack video titled “Just Say the Word.”

In her song, “Shelter,” Joy Oladokun expresses a desire to give the listener the love and shelter they are looking for.

However, she can’t force them to love her back. That’s up to them to decide. In the same way, it’s up to us to decide to try God.

But I can’t make you love me even if I try

I’m not gonna force you, you have to decide

I’m asking you to trust me

When I say that I’m not here for the moment

I’m in this for life

Joy Oladokun, “Shelter”

As Joy Oladokun expresses in her song, the Scriptures tell us that God is also ready to give us the love we are looking for. He’s not just here with us for the moment; he’s in it for the long haul. But he’s not going to force us to love or trust him, it’s up to us to decide we’re going to give him a try.

God wants us to have a relationship with him that is personal and our own, not based on other people’s opinions. The way we make our relationship with God our own is through reading the Bible, so we can get to know him for ourselves.

What is your view of God based on? Other people’s opinions, or your own discovery of who he is from the Bible?

Let’s break down the lyrics of this song with some scriptures to learn how to get to know God for ourselves. Building a real and lasting relationship with him will give us the love and shelter we want.

But I can’t make you love me even if I try / I’m not gonna force you, you have to decide

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. [32] And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NLT

Jesus is saying here that the way to know the truth is to remain faithful to his teachings. In other words, if you want to know whether the Scriptures are true, you have to try living them out. You can’t wait for God to prove himself to you. And you can’t take other people’s word for it. You need to read the Bible yourself to start building your relationship with God.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. [12] As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.

Acts 17:11-12 NLT

The reason the people in Berea believed was that they searched the Scriptures themselves every day to see if what Paul and Silas said were true. They were able to decide whether they wanted a relationship with God because they didn’t base their choice on what other people said, but what they discovered about God from reading the Bible.

Reflection questions

  • Do you have a relationship with God that is your own, or do you base it on what other people say about God?
  • Choose to read the Bible daily so you can make a decision to know God for yourself.

I’m asking you to trust me

So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

[21] “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. [22] The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

[23] “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” [24] The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

 Mark 9:20-24 NLT

In this scripture, a father brought his son to be healed by Jesus. This father had probably heard about Jesus from other people, but had never had a personal interaction with him. He had some doubt and fear that Jesus was actually who he said he was. 

Jesus didn’t respond to this unbelief with rejection or judgment. Instead, he pushed the father to face and acknowledge the doubt in his heart that was preventing him from seeing what God could really do in his life.

Just like the father in this scripture, many of us have fear and doubt that hold us back from trusting God and pursuing a relationship with God for ourselves.

What if God’s not there, or we go after him wholeheartedly and he’s not actually able to help us? What if he judges or criticizes us, or doesn’t actually care?

It’s easy to shut those kinds of thoughts down and think we’re not allowed to think those things, especially if we grew up religious. But we need to be honest about what fears hold us back in order to really see God for ourselves.

[5] Why am I so overwrought? Why am I so disturbed? Why can’t I just hope in God? Despite all my emotions, I will believe and praise the One who saves me and is my life.

Psalm 42:5 Voice

Ultimately, believing is a choice. Once we are honest about the emotions and fears that hold us back from God, we can choose to take a leap of faith and believe that God will show himself to us when we decide to trust him.

Reflection questions

  • What fears and doubts do you need to be honest about with God and friends?
  • What would it look like for you to choose to believe today?

When I say that I’m not here for the moment, I’m in this for life

[1] Protect me, God, for the only safety I know is found in the moments I seek You. [8] He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me. I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand. [9] This is a good life-my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? [11] Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.

Psalm 16:1,8-9,11 Voice

Scriptures like this one show us who God is. He wants to make us happy, content, and at rest. He wants to stick with us and be a safe place we go to.

God really wants to give us a good life, but we have to seek after him to get it!

Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. [3] Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!

1 Peter 2:2-3 GW

The way we are able to “taste that the Lord is good” and actually experience the refreshing aspects of God Psalm 16 talks about is by reading the Bible (“desire God’s pure word”). The more we spend time reading the Bible, the more faith we get and know God in a deeper way. Start reading today!

Reflection questions

  • What good things is God trying to give you by being in relationship with him?
  • How can you start spending more time with God today?

One way to start is by subscribing to the podcast, “Just Say the Word” to get the Bible in small bites to help set your heart in the morning. 

For a real-life example of how to make your relationship with God your own, watch our Sunday Morning Jetpack video, “Just Say the Word”:

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Decide to Try God: A Sunday Morning Jetpack Devotional 7

Alexis Colvin is a writer and editor for Deep Spirituality, and is passionate about using her creative skills to apply spiritual concepts to music and other forms of pop culture.

Decide to Try God: A Sunday Morning Jetpack Devotional 7

Alexis Colvin is a writer and editor for Deep Spirituality, and is passionate about using her creative skills to apply spiritual concepts to music and other forms of pop culture.

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Decide to Try God: A Sunday Morning Jetpack Devotional 9