Priorities

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

God isn’t telling us abandon all earthly hopes, dreams, desires, etc. but to make sure they are not what is pulling or guiding us.

Seek FIRST the kingdom and all else will fall into place after that.

It’s a hard habit to keep as our (my) daily inclination when I awake is not always to be heavenly minded. My mind wants to think of the things on my list, not His.

Kingdom living means seeking Him first and letting Him guide us through our days. I also believe it means being aware of what the first things are you put into your mind in the morning. I try to read my morning devotional fairly quickly as I get up and try not to look at any emails, Facebook or news sources until I get my mind “coated” in whatever God has waiting for me each morning. Like a baker who lines the pan with butter to keep things from sticking to the pan, God’s word can help make our minds non-stick so the news of the day doesn’t stick to us and control how we start the day.

The enemy wants us to start each day with fear, anger or any range of emotions based on what is happening in the world. God wants us to start the day with His word, and a grateful heart so when we see what is taking place around us it doesn’t steal our joy or affect our thinking.

Take control and override what your flesh wants to focus on. Make an intentional decision to start each day with a focus on God and the kingdom first, and you’ll find it’s easier to keep doing so through the day as distractions arise.