Word Before World by Gretchen SafflesChikamu

Putting the World before the Word Doesn’t Work

The unwelcome chime of my alarm jolts me awake. Still half asleep, I clumsily press the snooze button in the pitch black of our bedroom. In what feels like a matter of seconds, fifteen minutes pass, and the alarm chimes again. This time I grab my phone and tap the internet icon in a stubborn attempt to wake up while remaining in bed—checking email, scrolling social media, perusing news headlines.

By the time I leave the comfort of my covers and place my feet on the carpet, a pit of insecurity has formed in my stomach. The perfectly polished photos I just consumed on social media directly contrast with the unkempt reality before me. On top of that, my mind is racing one hundred miles per hour as I ruminate on a doomsday article I read that has me convinced the world is on the brink of disaster!

Fear strangles my peace, my vision is obstructed by a mountain of worry, and the contentment I could have enjoyed is crushed to smithereens . . . and it’s only 6:30 a.m.

This exact scenario has happened more times than I care to admit. When I put the world before the Word of God, the outcome is always the same: I’m left spiritually dry.

One December, on the eve of a new year, I sat down with my journal to get to the bottom of why I was struggling with perpetual discouragement in my faith. As I took inventory of how I spent my time, I discovered a habit of giving Jesus my leftovers. Despite what I said I believed, the ideas, priorities, and pursuits of this world had more authority and influence over the formation of my soul than the Word of God did.

Peace was absent from my mind, anxiety had taken up residence in my soul, and discontentment drove my desires. My spiritual taste buds had become used to the unsatisfying junk food the world offers: surface-level affirmations and quick fixes. I needed to be retrained to crave the satisfying feast of God’s Word.

Frustrated by my failure to put Christ first, I confessed my desperate need for the Holy Spirit’s help.

I’d tried and failed enough times to recognize that the true pursuit of God is not a self-help journey; it’s a Spirit-led surrender as we learn how to savor our Savior above all else. As I realized this, I wrote down a quick phrase to reframe how I wanted to spend my time, start my days, and shape my mindset:

Word before world.

This three-word statement has become my morning manifesto, my afternoon anthem, and my evening comfort. No matter the season of life I’m in or what circumstances I’m going through, these three words transform my worldview, my schedule, my dreams, and my desires. When my alarm sounds in the morning, I remember: Word before world. When I reach for my phone to escape the pressures and stresses of everyday life, the Holy Spirit reminds me: Word before world. When my Bible remains unopened for days at a time, I pick it back up and resolve, by God’s grace: Word before world. Instead of looking at my phone, my lists, and my plans for direction and nourishment, I commit to looking first to Jesus—and this changes everything.