--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many Christians expend so much energy and…" description: "\"Many Christians expend so much energy and worry trying not to sin. The goal is not to try to sin less. In all your efforts to keep from sinning, what a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg" --- # Many Christians expend so much energy and worry trying not… ![“Many Christians expend so much energy and worry trying not to sin. The goal is not to try to sin less. In all your efforts to keep from sinning, what are you focusing on? Sin. God wants you to focus on him. To be with him. “Abide in me.” Just relax and learn to enjoy his presence. Every day is a…” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg) > “Many Christians expend so much energy and worry trying not to sin. The goal is not to try to sin less. In all your efforts to keep from sinning, what are you focusing on? Sin. God wants you to focus on him. To be with him. “Abide in me.” Just relax and learn to enjoy his presence. Every day is a collection of moments, 86,400 seconds in a day. How many of them can you live with God? Start where you are and grow from there. God wants to be with you every moment.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The focus should be on God's presence rather than obsessively avoiding sin, allowing peace and enjoyment in daily moments. **In simple terms:** Focus on God, not on avoiding sin. Key Takeaway Seek God's presence daily. Themes faith spirituality mindfulness Mood peaceful reflective Type inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - daily prayer - meditation - mindful living - spiritual growth Key Concepts Christianity abiding presence Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance daily duties with seeking God's presence? - What habits help you stay aware of God throughout the day? A Different Perspective Neglecting practical responsibilities while seeking spiritual focus can be problematic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sinning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinning/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Ladies: If a man really wants to be with you, you WILL know it! If you have to question it, let it go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/ladies-if-a-man-really-wants-to-be-with-you-you-will-know-it-if-you/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [I'm sick and tired of you people living interstate and overseas from people you want to be with. You're ruining my life! All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-sick-and-tired-of-you-people-living-interstate-and-overseas-from/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Isn't this the best part of breakin' up? Finding someone else you can't get enough of. Someone who wants to be with you, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/isn-t-this-the-best-part-of-breakin-up-finding-someone-else-you-can-t/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [This may sound crazy, but to love someone so much that their happiness comes before yours; to find someone who wants to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-may-sound-crazy-but-to-love-someone-so-much-that-their-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We want you to stop caring about what anybody else's response is to you. And when you get there, they'll all really, really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/we-want-you-to-stop-caring-about-what-anybody-else-s-response-is-to/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I think actions really do define how you feel, as opposed to just saying, "I care about you" or "I want to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlyne-yi/i-think-actions-really-do-define-how-you-feel-as-opposed-to-just/) [Charlyne Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlyne-yi/) > [“To me, every day of life is a good day. Of course there are people & situations thrown on your path, only as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanina-king/to-me-every-day-of-life-is-a-good-day-of-course-there-are-people/) [LaNina King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanina-king/) > [“Is there no God? What is his correct address? Which street does he live in? Is he up there? There is no one up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/is-there-no-god-what-is-his-correct-address-which-street-does-he-live/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Live to please God, not people. You have His approval, and that is all you really need!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/live-to-please-god-not-people-you-have-his-approval-and-that-is-all/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/resolution-one-i-will-live-for-god-resolution-two-if-no-one-else-does/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“God blessed us with so many beautiful things around us 'NATURE' and then gave us the precious gift 'LIFE' to enjoy. So, why worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manik-ghawri/god-blessed-us-with-so-many-beautiful-things-around-us-nature-and/) Manik Ghawri > [Live as though only God and yourself were in this world, so that your heart may not be detained by anything human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-as-though-only-god-and-yourself-were-in-this-world-so-that-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whither am I going? To the New World. What to do? To gain honor? No, if I know my own heart. To get money?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-asbury/whither-am-i-going-to-the-new-world-what-to-do-to-gain-honor-no-if-i/) [Francis Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-asbury/) > [Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/live-for-god-obey-the-scriptures-think-of-others-before-yourself-be/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [You can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good choices for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-donehey/you-can-t-live-for-god-until-you-learn-how-to-live-because-of-god-and/) [Mike Donehey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-donehey/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many Christians expend so much energy and worry trying not to sin. The goal is not to try to sin less. In all your efforts to keep from sinning, what are you focusing on? Sin. God wants you to focus on him. To be with him. “Abide in me.” Just relax and learn to enjoy his presence. Every day is a collection of moments, 86,400 seconds in a day. How many of them can you live with God? Start where you are and grow from there. God wants to be with you every moment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-and-worry-trying-not-to-sin-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-and-worry-trying-not-to-sin-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-ortberg-932_christian_many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-an_1469426.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many Christians expend so much energy and worry trying not to sin. The goal is not to try to sin less. In…” — John Ortberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many Christians expend so much energy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-and-worry-trying-not-to-sin-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/many-christians-expend-so-much-energy-and-worry-trying-not-to-sin-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```