Seek God First
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34
As I read these words, it is so clear that one of the most important things we can do as a believer is to seek God. Seek Him for who He is, not just for what He can give to us. Our relationship with our heavenly Father is more important than the troubles and concerns we may be facing right now. God knows our needs, and He will not let us be in want. Psalm 23. This passage from the Psalms is a metaphor, as God is our shepherd and we are His sheep. A shepherd is one who cares for His sheep. He leads the way and keeps them from danger. He gives them food and water. If a sheep gets lost, the shepherd's job is to find him. The sheep in turn, trust their shepherd and look to him to take care of them. My friend, this is exactly what God does with us. He is caring and compassionate. He leads the way. He is our light in the darkest night. He will never let us down.
All to often, we get caught up in the things of this world. If we are not careful, we will begin to focus on things, circumstances or people more than we focus on God. Once we take our eyes off Him, we will indeed lose our way either falling into sin or taking our lives into our own hands and trying to do things on our own. This usually is a gradual thing and we do not even see it coming until it is too late. Paul talks about this in Galatians. "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the One who calls you." 5:7-8 God told the Israelites to "be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." Deuteronomy 6:12 Those words are for you and me today as much as they were for the Israelites back then. God is the One who holds us and this entire world in His hand. He is the One who has set us free from bondage and given us life in Christ Jesus.
There may be something or someone that you have been earnestly praying for, but you do not have an answer. Continue praying, but as you do, put God first. Don't give into fear and don't let the enemy deceive you by putting thoughts in your head such as, "God does not care about you, He does not hear your prayers," or that God "will never answer your prayer." God does indeed care about you more than you could possibly imagine. We have to remember that God knows what is best for us. Something we think would be great, may not be what God has planned because He has something far greater. While you wait on God, continue to serve Him, continue to seek Him and love others with your whole heart. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. When you begin to have doubts, remind yourself of who God is and get into His word. He is powerful, loving, merciful, just, holy, righteous and true. God is not like us~He is perfect and so are His ways. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48
"All of the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant." Psalm 25:10 This verse does not say some of the ways, but all of the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful.
One of the hardest things for us to do is wait. But we are told over and over again in His word, to wait on God. In other words, trust God that He is going to work out your situation. Don't take it into your own hands and try to fix something or do something that only God can do. It is always in His time. While you are waiting, God is strengthening your character. He is perfecting you, making you more and more like Christ. If you always got everything you wanted right when you asked for it, what good would that do? In fact, you may end up viewing God as just some genie in a bottle that grants your every wish. No, it is in the trials of life and the waiting period that God can teach us and grow us so much if we will keep our eyes fixed on Him.
Let God be God....trust Him to take care of your situation, your need or your relationship. He is God~there is none like Him. Nothing is impossible for God. Luke 1:37 Let God perfect you. Let Him have His way with you. He will never disappoint you.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."1Timothy 6:6-7 I am certain that when we stand before Christ one day, nothing will matter except what we have done for Him and His kingdom. Keep an eternal perspective. Ask God to teach you to number your days so that you can make the most of the time He has given you. And remember, to keep your eyes on Him!
As I read these words, it is so clear that one of the most important things we can do as a believer is to seek God. Seek Him for who He is, not just for what He can give to us. Our relationship with our heavenly Father is more important than the troubles and concerns we may be facing right now. God knows our needs, and He will not let us be in want. Psalm 23. This passage from the Psalms is a metaphor, as God is our shepherd and we are His sheep. A shepherd is one who cares for His sheep. He leads the way and keeps them from danger. He gives them food and water. If a sheep gets lost, the shepherd's job is to find him. The sheep in turn, trust their shepherd and look to him to take care of them. My friend, this is exactly what God does with us. He is caring and compassionate. He leads the way. He is our light in the darkest night. He will never let us down.
All to often, we get caught up in the things of this world. If we are not careful, we will begin to focus on things, circumstances or people more than we focus on God. Once we take our eyes off Him, we will indeed lose our way either falling into sin or taking our lives into our own hands and trying to do things on our own. This usually is a gradual thing and we do not even see it coming until it is too late. Paul talks about this in Galatians. "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the One who calls you." 5:7-8 God told the Israelites to "be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." Deuteronomy 6:12 Those words are for you and me today as much as they were for the Israelites back then. God is the One who holds us and this entire world in His hand. He is the One who has set us free from bondage and given us life in Christ Jesus.
There may be something or someone that you have been earnestly praying for, but you do not have an answer. Continue praying, but as you do, put God first. Don't give into fear and don't let the enemy deceive you by putting thoughts in your head such as, "God does not care about you, He does not hear your prayers," or that God "will never answer your prayer." God does indeed care about you more than you could possibly imagine. We have to remember that God knows what is best for us. Something we think would be great, may not be what God has planned because He has something far greater. While you wait on God, continue to serve Him, continue to seek Him and love others with your whole heart. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. When you begin to have doubts, remind yourself of who God is and get into His word. He is powerful, loving, merciful, just, holy, righteous and true. God is not like us~He is perfect and so are His ways. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48
"All of the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant." Psalm 25:10 This verse does not say some of the ways, but all of the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful.
One of the hardest things for us to do is wait. But we are told over and over again in His word, to wait on God. In other words, trust God that He is going to work out your situation. Don't take it into your own hands and try to fix something or do something that only God can do. It is always in His time. While you are waiting, God is strengthening your character. He is perfecting you, making you more and more like Christ. If you always got everything you wanted right when you asked for it, what good would that do? In fact, you may end up viewing God as just some genie in a bottle that grants your every wish. No, it is in the trials of life and the waiting period that God can teach us and grow us so much if we will keep our eyes fixed on Him.
Let God be God....trust Him to take care of your situation, your need or your relationship. He is God~there is none like Him. Nothing is impossible for God. Luke 1:37 Let God perfect you. Let Him have His way with you. He will never disappoint you.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."1Timothy 6:6-7 I am certain that when we stand before Christ one day, nothing will matter except what we have done for Him and His kingdom. Keep an eternal perspective. Ask God to teach you to number your days so that you can make the most of the time He has given you. And remember, to keep your eyes on Him!
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