What does it mean to put something or someone first? When our lives are overcrowded and overrunning, how do even know what is first and what is just in the mix of it all? It can be difficult to know where we started or where we are going when we are just surviving. We may proclaim that we put our children first until we look at our hectic schedules overrun with other things. We may think we put our spouse first until we look at how our time is actually spent. The way we spend our time and our funds, our energies and our gifts all show us those things or people which we have chosen to put first.
And yet, those who choose to follow God are called to put him first. How is this even possible? We have those we love more than life itself. We have obligations which tend to cause us to lose sight of the important stuff in life. We have consumer goods telling us we have to work extra to obtain the pretty things. We have to look good and make sure everything is social media worthy. It can be confusing and distressing. So how do we sort it all out?
Putting God first really does help us to readjust our priorities and envision a different life. Putting God first actually enables us to take better care of our spouse and children. Putting God first encourages us to work giving it our all – because we are doing it as unto the Lord. Putting God first helps us to see those things which are truly valuable – and we might just be surprised where really value is found. We begin to see that love, peace, joy, and hope are way more important than the latest gadget or social media photo. We begin to care less about the things of this world and more about God’s good creation and living for him. We may just find our life really is a lot more joyful than we could have ever imagined. It just make take a new look – a look at what it means to put God first in all things.
How might our lives change today if we just take a few moments to readjust and begin to put God first? Will we find ourselves less judgmental, angry, and anxious?
Focus Scripture:
Mark 12:29-30
29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
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