Proverbs 24:27 The Passion Translation
[27] Go ahead, build your career and give yourself to your work. But if you put me first, you’ll see your family built up!

Good Morning!

Distraction! There is always something that we are so easily drawn to that we put God on the back burner. We always tell ourselves that I’ll do better tomorrow. I’ll get up early and pray and read His word. I’ll do it later. I’ll _____________ (fill in your own excuse here).

God wants to be first in our lives. So much that He even made this the first of His 10 commandments. Other things like work, self-indulgence, sports, video games, social life, exercise, cars, houses, boats, stuff, etc. — these are the little gods that we put before before The God, creator of the Universe. He wants us to put Him first and foremost above all other things in our lives. God desires a personal relationship with us. His love for us is immeasurable and He waits at the door to our hearts and knocks gently waiting for us to open it and let Him in.

Exodus 20:2-3 NKJV
[2] “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT
[18] And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. [19] May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Revelation 3:20 NKJV
[20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Living a God First Life

When we obey His command to put Him first in our lives, we need not care about the worries of this life. There are so many things that pull our attention away from depending solely on the God and Creator of all things. But when we stop and be still in His presence, he will allow His peace that surpasses all understanding overshadow our lives. God wants us to first come to Him with our anxiety, fears and burdens with prayer and thanksgiving as we fix our eyes on Him and lean not on our own understanding. Then think about the things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV
[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
[6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; [7] and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 NLT
[8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

What is Second?

As we turn our hearts toward Him, putting Him first, let’s also look at what Jesus said about what should be second – to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are living in a time where it is really easy to be selfish. The very meaning of selfish is to put self first. So when we put things in correct order in our lives, God first and our neighbors second, we are living out the way Jesus instructed us. In fact, God tells us that He really only works with our character when we are living with our lives ordered correctly — God first, others second and ourselves in a place of humility.

Mark 12:30-31 NKJV
[30] And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. [31] And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Psalm 25:9 NKJV
[9] The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

I love the Amplified Bible version of Proverbs 11:2. Notice humility comes by being pruned and chiseled by trial and renouncing ourselves.

Proverbs 11:2 AMPC
[2] When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

How Do I Start?

God knows we are human. He made us and knows us better than we know ourselves. The idea of putting God first is not a one-and-done situation. It is a lifelong journey. It takes time to change our lifestyles and routines. But I promise you that when you begin to put God first in your life, you will see change. You will see things differently as you look at life through God’s lens.

Start today by just spending 10 minutes. Commit to that time daily and you will want more. Choose a short daily Bible Study and take some time to pray. You will find that this time flies by. It isn’t a burden or obligation. It is a time that you share your hearts with the Lord of all, who wants to have a relationship with us. You will soon find that you will want to change your schedule to allow even more time for Him. As we do this more and more, your love and devotion will ever increase and the things you thought were so important in this life will grow strangely dim.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT
[23] Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!”
By Helen H. Lemmel

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