Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s wonderful to be here with you today.
Today is September 3.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down

You are stepping into a sacred space with the intent of meeting with Jesus.
He wants to meet with you and spend time with you.
Take this moment to slow down, quiet your mind, and prepare your heart to connect with Him.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.
As you inhale, whisper: "Jesus, I strive to enter the narrow door."
As you exhale, pray: “I don’t want to be left out."
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
(Luke 13:22–27, NLT)

Notice

What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a word or phrase that jumps out to you from this story?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread

Hear this passage again — and notice the difference between proximity to Jesus and truly knowing Him.

Meditate

Someone asks Jesus a theological question: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?"
It's the kind of question we ask when we want to talk about other people. When we want to understand the landscape of salvation from a safe distance.
But Jesus doesn't answer the question. He redirects it — and He makes it personal: "Strive to enter through the narrow door."
Not: "Here's the percentage." Not: "Let me give you the statistics." But: "What about you? Are you going through the door?"
The word "strive" is important. It means effort. Intentionality. Not casual religion. Not comfortable Christianity. Not just being in the vicinity of Jesus.
And then He tells a story that should make all of us uncomfortable. The door closes. And people stand outside knocking — people who ate and drank in Jesus's presence, people who heard Him teach in their streets. They had proximity. They had exposure. They had religious experience.
But Jesus says: "I do not know where you come from."
Not "I don't know who you are." He knows who they are. He's saying: I don't know you. We don't have a relationship. You were near Me — but you were never with Me.
This is the narrow door. Not a narrow set of rules. Not a narrow theology. A narrow relationship. One where you actually know Jesus — and He knows you. Where your faith is not just cultural or inherited or comfortable, but personal, committed, and all-in.
The question isn't whether you've been around Jesus. The question is whether you know Him — and whether He knows you.
Take a few moments to sit with this question:
Am I all in for Jesus — truly knowing Him and being known by Him — or am I settling for proximity without relationship?

Respond

Jesus, I don't want to be someone who was near You but never truly knew You. I want to go through the narrow door — all the way in, all the way committed, all the way known by You. Search my heart. Show me where I've been settling for proximity instead of relationship. And help me to strive — with everything I have — to truly know You.

Exercise

The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: All In
Today's habit is an act of honest commitment: identify one area where you've been half-in with Jesus — one place where you've been near Him without truly following Him.
Write it down. Be honest.
Bring it to Jesus and pray: "Jesus, I've been half-in when it comes to _________________. I've been near You without truly surrendering this. But I don't want to be someone who ate and drank in Your presence and still heard 'I do not know you.' I want to go through the narrow door — all the way. I'm surrendering _________________ to You today. I'm choosing relationship over proximity. I'm choosing to be all in."
Then take one concrete step toward that surrender today.
The door is still open. The invitation is still standing.
Strive to enter. Go all the way through.

I have two asks of you before you go, could you please share this podcast with one person today and check out the review of this podcast on Elevate Society?
That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus