Putting God First

Dec. 5, 2018 | By Creflo Dollar

Most of us have learned quite well to prioritize tasks and projects that we’re working on, whether it’s at home, at school, or at work. We’re taught at an early age to sort out what’s most important and do those things first. However, the world has taught us backward. The Word of God shows that what’s high priority to many of us matters little to God, and vice versa.

The world’s normal order of operations is usually geared toward pursuing money, food, clothing, housing, education, and a number of other things deemed important; God comes in last. God knows we need all those things, and there’s nothing wrong with having them. However, there’s a right way and a wrong way to prioritize. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33, NIV). Prioritizing according to God’s Word gets results.

What we seek has a profound impact on our everyday lives. How we set our priorities affects the little things we do to achieve our goals. Others may not understand or see the connection between continually seeking God and consistent success in all we do, but there’s real power in God’s promises. “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, AMPC).

We all have our weak moments, but believers have a tremendous advantage over others who don’t know Christ. There will always be times when, no matter how hard we try, we’re forced to admit that we need a miracle to succeed. Relying on God’s strength instead of our own, and thinking about times when He intervened on our behalf in times past, helps us keep our perspective on what matters most. “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” (1 Chronicles 16:11, 12, NIV). Remembering the things He did for us that we could never have done on our own puts us in a thankful mindset.

When we trust God and put Him first before our own interests, He honors that trust. Everyone faces perplexing situations from time to time, but who we turn to for help and guidance makes the difference between failure and success. When others depend on their own wits to get themselves out of a jam, seeking God’s advice and counsel helps us cut through the confusion. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). When we don’t know what to do, listening for His voice and doing what He says brings clarity of purpose.

Prioritizing what we do keeps us organized and on task. It indicates what we should turn our attention to first, to achieve good results. However, we mustn’t leave out the one who should come first. “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him” (Lamentations 3:25). Waiting for God’s direction instead of rushing ahead with our own priorities always brings good things.

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