Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Worship: My Help Comes from the Lord - The Museum
For the past month or so, God has been urging me to rely on Him completely; to immerse myself in His Word. I know that when I do this, my life will be transformed. How do I know this? Because I have experienced it. Not long ago, I was spending a lot of time listening to Joyce Meyer's podcast, reading Christian books, studying God's Word, and spending quality time with God. The peace and insights I experienced changed me dramatically... and then I stopped.
So Why Stop?
Why does it seem so easy to let life's "stuff" derail us? You know what it's like - it's either the snooze button, or a doctor's appointment, or working overtime, or any number of things that fill up our day. Yes, we are all busy.
We need to always seek God first because without Him we have nothing. We need to give Him the very first few minutes of our day so that we spend the day with a God consciousness. This will help us to do things God's way rather than our own. How does this look in real life? When I get up in the morning, instead of checking emails and doing other computer things, I will choose to do my bible study and spend quiet time with God first. If I find myself running to another doctor out of fear, I will run to God first. When I find myself turning to food for comfort, I will turn to God first.
WARNING - Don't beat yourself when you don't do this perfectly. Satan uses guilt and condemnation to come between us and God. Thankfully God sees our heart. As long as you are earnestly seeking a relationship with Him, He will transform your heart. When that happens, everything changes.
WARNING - Don't beat yourself when you don't do this perfectly. Satan uses guilt and condemnation to come between us and God. Thankfully God sees our heart. As long as you are earnestly seeking a relationship with Him, He will transform your heart. When that happens, everything changes.
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Dear God, thank You for your many blessings. You have taught me so much. I confess that I still fall back in to old patterns and let things come before You. Thank You for loving me anyway. I pray for the wisdom to promptly obey You instead of ignoring You. I pray that You would grant me the wisdom to recognize Your voice through all the clutter that runs through my thoughts. I pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.
Running to Him first is so important. When I was in college, I set up the commitment to always read my Bible before I read anything else in the day till I got regular with always meeting with Him. I must admit that I do check my emails when I wake up because of my business but I ALWAYS keep my date with Him after the family is off to school/work and it is quiet. How I love my time in the Word. Blessings, Amy Hagerup
ReplyDeleteThe Book of Joshua tells us how we should treat God's Word: "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, BUT you shall meditate on it day and night..." As you quoted Matthew, To SEEK GOD is to to "to 'seek' by thinking, to 'seek' how to do something, or what to obtain." As Joshua says, not only should we seek but to MEDITATE on what we are seeking in God's Word. I can often spend hours in the morning reading, and studying in my Bible, but unless the words speak back to me, I find myself just reading and not listening to what Holy Spirit is conveying. Don't get me wrong, READING is terrific! But not for just the sake of "reading." Joshua continues, "For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." Great job in SEEKING OUT the truth and then thinking about what you've read during the rest of the day. It's an on-going conversation in your relationship that makes the rest of the day wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristina, you're not alone -- I'm sure we've all found that life can derail our best intentions if we let it. I've found that if I don't hold on tightly to God every day through that time with Him, that life can throw very hard curve balls. It's the time with God that keeps us sane!
ReplyDeleteTruly there is a difference when I spend that time in the Word and think about it through out the day. there is a difference in how I respond to the things throughout the day. It helps me when I am in a Bible Study group to learn from others and have that "accountability". I am reminded to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul,strength and mind,(Luke 10:27) and all these things will be added unto you. God brings such comfort in ALL circumstances. Amazing how he does. He is Truly the Peace that passes all understanding. thanks for the warning reminder. Enjoy your first hour of every morning and the rest of the day in HIS PRESENCE!
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder to us - both God and the computer await our time. I pray that we will hear God's voice quietly calling to our hearts and that His voice will be louder, stronger and more intriguing than our computers or whatever else...
ReplyDeleteTime with Him first always makes life better. Today is the day we can begin to seek first His kingdom, His way of doing things so that we are being children of the Kingdom who love their King.
Hi Kristina, I hear you particularly at the moment, life seems quite complicated at the moment and my mind fuzzy from being overwhelmed. At times like this it's a struggle to find the inner space and peace to spend time with God. It's not so much that I don't want to because I do, but I need help reaching the rock that is higher than I.
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