When Something Else Starts Sitting Where Only God Belongs
Matthew 6:19–21 (NLT) reminds us, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” That’s not just about money. That’s about where your heart lands. What you value. What you lean on without even realizing it.
I remember being about twenty-five, introducing a man I was dating to some coworkers. I was excited… a little too excited. He looked good, carried himself well, and I could feel the attention shift when we walked in. And I said it—without thinking it through—“this is the love of my life.” Looking back, that wasn’t love talking. That was ego. That was immaturity. That was me placing weight on something that hadn’t been tested, proven, or built on anything real.
A lot of us don’t realize how much we’re moved by the need to be seen, admired, and validated. We want people to look at our lives and feel impressed. And if we’re not careful, we start building our identity around what gets that reaction. But that kind of foundation will crack. It always does. And for me, it did. It took heartbreak, disappointment, and a few hard “I tried to tell you” moments to wake me up to what I should’ve understood from the beginning.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT) tells us, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Jesus Christ echoes those same words in the Gospels, which solidifies this as our foundation. The love of God through Jesus Christ is not just a part of your life—it is the love of your life. And when we try to pull from a person what only God can supply, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Not because people are bad, but because they were never meant to carry that kind of weight.
Only Jesus Christ can fill our cups. The world teaches us early—through movies, stories, and subtle messaging—that a man can complete us, fix us, make us whole. But that’s not the truth. That’s a setup. No human being has the capacity to fill what was designed for God. Only Jesus Christ can do that. Only Him. Anything else might feel good for a moment, but it won’t hold you.
And if we’re honest, this hits deep for a lot of women. There’s a real desire to be chosen, affirmed, consistently reminded that we’re loved. So we start placing value on who’s saying it and how often they say it. But if your sense of worth is coming from a person, it will rise and fall with them. That’s not stability—that’s dependency.
Romantic love has its place. It’s a blessing. But it’s not the foundation. It’s not what sustains a relationship, and it’s definitely not what carries a marriage. We were created to build, to nurture, to support—but that only flows right when we’re rooted in God through Christ first. When your relationship with Him is healthy, it shapes how you love, how you choose, and what you accept.
Marriage is serious. It’s one of the most weighty investments you’ll ever make into another person’s life. And if we’re going to love someone well, it has to come from a place that’s been formed by Christ. That means for single women, the relationship with God cannot sit beneath the relationship you desire. It has to stay above it. Always.
And even when God blesses you with what you’ve been praying for, this still applies. Even more so. Deuteronomy 6:12 (NLT) gives a simple but strong warning: “Be careful not to forget the Lord.” Not when you’re waiting. Not when you’re hurting. And not when you finally receive.
Because forgetting Him doesn’t always look like walking away. Sometimes it looks like slowly shifting your focus… until something else is sitting where only He belongs. But you don’t have to be stuck there. Through prayer and obedience, you can come back into alignment with His Will, reset your heart, and put God back where He belongs—at the head of your life. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Be Careful Not to Forget the Lord”, written by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.