You’ve been hearing the invitation: Come home. Come back to Jesus. Rebuild your faith.
And maybe you’re ready. Maybe you want to.
But here’s the question nobody seems to answer: What does that actually look like day-to-day?
What does “following Jesus” mean on a random Tuesday when you’re stuck in traffic, dealing with a difficult coworker, and trying to figure out what’s for dinner? What does it look like when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or just trying to get through the day?
You know what it doesn’t look like—at least not for most people. It doesn’t look like:
- Waking up at 5 AM for two hours of prayer and Bible study
- Never struggling, never doubting, never having a bad day
- Speaking in King James English and posting Bible verses on everything
- Being perfect, put-together, and spiritually mature at all times
But if it’s not that… then what is it?
That’s what we’re going to talk about today. Not the idealized, Instagram-worthy version of faith. The real, everyday, messy, ordinary version.
Because following Jesus isn’t about performing spirituality. It’s about living in relationship with Him in the middle of your actual life.
Let’s talk about what that really looks like.
It Starts With Awareness
The first (and maybe most important) part of following Jesus day-to-day is simply this: being aware that He’s there.
Not in a spooky, “big brother is watching” kind of way. But in a “you’re not alone, He’s with you” kind of way.
Following Jesus starts when you wake up in the morning and acknowledge, even for just a second: God, You’re here. I’m not doing this day alone.
That’s it. That’s the beginning.
You don’t have to have a profound quiet time. You don’t have to feel anything. You just acknowledge His presence.
And then, throughout the day, you practice noticing Him:
- In the morning when you’re drinking coffee: God, thanks for this moment of quiet before the chaos.
- In traffic when someone cuts you off: Jesus, help me not lose it right now.
- At work when you’re stressed: God, I need wisdom here.
- At dinner with your family: Thank You for these people.
Following Jesus day-to-day is less about doing a bunch of spiritual activities and more about inviting Him into your ordinary moments.
It Looks Like Talking to God (A Lot)
Prayer isn’t just the formal, heads-bowed, eyes-closed thing you do before meals or at church.
Prayer is talking to God. Constantly. Throughout the day.
Following Jesus looks like:
- “God, help me get through this meeting.”
- “Jesus, I’m really struggling with this person. Give me patience.”
- “Thank You for this parking spot.”
- “I have no idea what to do here. Show me.”
- “God, I’m so tired. I need Your strength.”
It’s ongoing conversation. Quick, honest, sometimes desperate prayers scattered throughout your day.
You’re not trying to impress God with eloquent language. You’re just… talking to Him. Like He’s actually there. Because He is.
Here’s the shift: Instead of saving up all your thoughts and concerns for a formal prayer time (that you might skip because life got busy), you just talk to God in real-time as things happen.
Stuck at a red light? That’s a good time to pray. Waiting for your computer to load? Pray. Walking to your car? Pray. Washing dishes? Pray.
Following Jesus isn’t about finding more time to be spiritual. It’s about recognizing that all your time is an opportunity to be with God.
It Looks Like Making Small, Faithful Choices
Following Jesus day-to-day often comes down to small choices:
In your thoughts:
- Choosing gratitude over complaining
- Choosing truth over the lies anxiety tells you
- Choosing to think about what’s good instead of spiraling into negativity
- Choosing to believe God is good even when life is hard
In your words:
- Choosing encouragement over gossip
- Choosing honesty over image management
- Choosing kindness when you’d rather be sarcastic
- Choosing to speak truth with love
In your actions:
- Choosing integrity when no one’s watching
- Choosing generosity when you could be stingy
- Choosing patience when you want to snap
- Choosing to help when it’s inconvenient
None of these choices are dramatic. They’re small. They happen in the mundane moments of ordinary life.
But these small choices, repeated over time, shape you into someone who looks more like Jesus.
It Looks Like Being Honest About When You Mess Up
Here’s what following Jesus does NOT look like: pretending you have it all together.
Following Jesus looks like:
- Admitting when you lose your temper
- Apologizing when you hurt someone
- Confessing when you’re struggling with the same sin again
- Acknowledging when you don’t know the answer
The Christian life isn’t about pretending to be perfect. It’s about being honest about your need for grace.
So when you mess up (and you will), you don’t hide it or make excuses. You bring it to God:
“God, I lost it with my kids today. I’m sorry. I need Your help. I can’t do this on my own.”
And then you move forward. Not in shame, but in the freedom of knowing you’re forgiven.
Following Jesus doesn’t mean you never fail. It means you fail forward—toward Him, not away from Him.
It Looks Like Actually Reading the Bible (But Not How You Think)
Yes, reading the Bible is part of following Jesus. But it doesn’t have to look like you think it does.
You don’t need to:
- Read for an hour every morning
- Understand everything you read
- Complete a reading plan
- Have a leather-bound journal and color-coded highlighters
Following Jesus looks like:
- Reading a chapter when you can
- Reading a few verses when that’s all you have time for
- Asking God to speak to you through what you read
- Thinking about one thing that stood out to you
- Applying one truth to your actual life
The goal isn’t information. It’s transformation. You’re not reading to check a box or become a Bible scholar. You’re reading to hear God’s voice and know Him better.
So maybe today you read Psalm 23 while you’re waiting for your kid to get out of practice. And one line sticks with you: “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
And throughout the day, when you’re anxious and running on fumes, you remember: God, You make me rest. Help me trust You enough to slow down.
That’s it. That’s following Jesus through Scripture. Simple. Practical. Real.
It Looks Like Loving People (Especially the Difficult Ones)
Jesus said the two greatest commands are: Love God, and love people.
So following Jesus day-to-day inevitably involves how you treat the people around you.
Following Jesus looks like:
- Being kind to the barista who got your order wrong
- Being patient with your spouse when they’re driving you to your limit
- Being gracious with your coworker who’s difficult
- Being generous with the person asking for help
- Being honest but gentle when you need to have a hard conversation
And here’s the thing: You can’t do this in your own strength. On your own, you’re impatient, self-centered, and quick to judge.
But when you’re walking with Jesus, you’re drawing on His patience, His love, His grace. You’re asking Him in real-time: “How would You want me to respond here? Give me Your love for this person.”
Following Jesus doesn’t mean you suddenly become a perfect person who never gets annoyed. It means when you do get annoyed, you bring it to God and ask for help instead of just acting on it.
It Looks Like Rest (Yes, Really)
This might surprise you, but following Jesus includes rest.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He didn’t say, “Come to me and I’ll give you a longer to-do list.”
Following Jesus looks like:
- Taking a Sabbath—a day (or even just a few hours) to rest and recharge
- Saying no to things you don’t have capacity for
- Getting enough sleep instead of running yourself into the ground
- Taking breaks instead of burning out in the name of productivity
- Trusting God enough to stop working and rest
Our culture worships busyness. Following Jesus means rejecting that idol and trusting that God is still in control even when you’re not hustling.
Rest isn’t laziness. Rest is faith. It’s trusting that God can handle things while you sleep.
It Looks Like Community (Even When It’s Hard)
Following Jesus isn’t a solo endeavor. We need other people.
Following Jesus looks like:
- Showing up to a church or small group even when you don’t feel like it
- Being honest with a trusted friend about what you’re struggling with
- Asking for help when you need it
- Praying for someone who’s going through a hard time
- Celebrating with people when something good happens
If you’ve been hurt by the church, this might be the hardest part. And that’s okay. You don’t have to jump into a huge community right away.
But at some point, following Jesus means being willing to be known, to be vulnerable, to let people walk with you.
Even if it’s just one or two safe people at first. That’s community. That’s enough.
It Looks Like Ordinary Obedience
Following Jesus often comes down to simple obedience in ordinary moments.
You sense God prompting you to:
- Text that person who’s been on your mind → You do it
- Give generously to someone in need → You do it
- Apologize to someone you hurt → You do it
- Set a boundary with someone who’s toxic → You do it
- Speak up when something’s wrong → You do it
It’s not flashy. It’s not dramatic. It’s just doing the next right thing God puts in front of you.
Sometimes you’ll feel like doing it. Often you won’t. But you do it anyway because you trust that God knows what He’s doing.
It Looks Like a Whole Lot of Grace
Here’s the most important thing I want you to know: Following Jesus is sustained by grace, not by your performance.
You’re going to have days when you do all of this well. And you’re going to have days when you fail at all of it.
Days when you don’t pray at all. Days when you snap at everyone around you. Days when you don’t read the Bible. Days when you forget God is even there.
And on those days, you’re still loved. You’re still His. You’re still following Jesus.
Because following Jesus isn’t about your ability to keep it all together. It’s about His ability to hold you even when you fall apart.
So when you have a bad day, you don’t spiral into shame. You come back to Him:
“God, today was a mess. I didn’t do well. But I’m still Yours. Help me try again tomorrow.”
And He does. Every single time.
What It Actually Looks Like: A Real Day
Let me paint you a picture of what this might actually look like in real life:
Morning: You wake up, still half-asleep, and think, God, I need You today. That’s your prayer. That’s enough.
You read a few verses from Psalms while drinking coffee. One line sticks with you. You think about it for a second, then move on with your day.
Midday: You’re stuck in traffic. Instead of just fuming, you pray: Jesus, help me not lose it. Give me patience. The traffic doesn’t clear, but your attitude shifts a little.
At work, a coworker is frustrating. You take a breath and think, How would Jesus want me to respond here? You choose kindness instead of sarcasm.
Afternoon: You’re exhausted. You realize you’ve been running nonstop. You hear that whisper: Rest. So you take 15 minutes to sit down and breathe. You thank God for the reminder.
Evening: At dinner, you pause and thank God for the food and the people around the table. It’s a quick, simple prayer, but it’s real.
Before bed, you think back on the day. Some of it went well. Some of it didn’t. You bring it all to God: Thanks for being with me today. Sorry for where I messed up. Help me try again tomorrow.
That’s it. That’s what following Jesus looks like.
Not perfect. Not impressive. Just ordinary faithfulness in the middle of ordinary life.
An Invitation to Start
So if you’re ready to start following Jesus—or to start again after being away—here’s what I want you to do:
Tomorrow, try this:
- When you wake up, acknowledge that God is with you
- Throughout the day, talk to Him like He’s actually there
- Make one small choice toward love, patience, or kindness
- Read a few verses of Scripture and ask God to speak
- At the end of the day, bring it all back to Him—the good and the bad
That’s it. That’s following Jesus.
It’s not about doing everything right. It’s about doing the next small thing and trusting that God is with you the whole time.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up.
And He’ll meet you there. Every single time.
What does following Jesus look like in your everyday life? What small practices have made the biggest difference for you? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your story.
