7 Ways
What is the greatest deed we can do as believers in Christ? Our faith calls us to many actions: love, forgiveness, hope. But what action is the greatest?
The first commandment is “Love the Lord.” A lawyer asked Jesus, “Master which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus replied “love the Lord, your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind. This is first and the greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:34-38).
Putting God first in our lives should be our foremost concern as believers. When we talk about people or things that we live or strongly enjoy, God should be at the top of the list. Only then are we fulfilling the first commandment.
Even though we know this, Jesus’s Words in the passage do not give us an automatic answer for living out this truth. The Bible tells us thee answers if we’re willing to search a bit further.
What does it mean to put God first?
“If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15)
To put anything first in life we have to make it a priority. We can determine our priorities based on where we devote the most of our time and energy. Someone who prioritizes their job spends most of their day working or thinking about work. Someone who prioritizes family will frequently be engaged with family activities. In both examples, the priority is valued about other things whether it is people or activities.
The same is true when we put God first in our lives. Holding God as a priority means focusing on God throughout the day. The Scripture says, “if we put God first everything will follow.” So, how do we put God first in our daily life? Prayer, attending church, participating in a Bible study group, or simply reading the Bible.
Of course, our relationship with God operated differently from or work, or our family. But how much time do you spend on social media, or playing on your phone? All this time is devoted away from God. And we are not even physical with God as we are with anything else.
Since our connection with God differs from the areas, putting God fires means keeping Him in mind when we are engaging with other people or activities. We can prioritize God without always going to church. We can achieve this by seeking to glorify Him with all that we do.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
If everything we do in life as believers should honor God, the Scripture above mentions such mundane and daily activities like eating and drinking.
If God is kept in mind with every choice we make, then we are making Him a priority no matter what responsibility we fulfill.
“But seek first the kindness of God and His righteousness and all things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
“In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6)
7 Ways to put God first
1. Spend Time With God
We know that people and activities get most of our time and what we care about The most. By shifting our focus more to God, we will do better at acknowledging Him throughout every moment of every day. Much like we have a specified time for work or hanging out with friends, we can schedule time with God to ensure we spend time with Him everyday.
I get up a little earlier each day, to sit and drink my coffee and spend time with God.
If we choose to keep prayer reading scripture and listening to God, the end result will be a tighter bond with God.
2. Pray Daily
God wants to hear from usm and one way we can do that,nis to pray. We can pray by thinking, speaking out loud, or even writing out thoughts down. No matter what route you take it establishes communication with God.
While we are honest in our relationships with spouses or children, nothing compares to what we an have with God. He observes us in every moment of our lives. Knowing that He is all knowing. We never have to be afraid talk to Him or ask for help.
The Bible encourages us to pray so we can make our requests known to God, gain wisdom for following Him, and to give God our thanks.
3. Thank God Continually
Can we truly appreciate any activity or person without being grateful for their existence? The same question applies to God and the life He has given us. Scripture exhorts us to give thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Giving God thanks is a sign of humility and our dependence on Him. This may sound silly, but when I have to go to the city, I always pray and thank God for watching over my vehicle and keeping me safe.
4. Ask God How You Can Serve
Praying to God opens us to learning more about God’s will for our lives. Jesus identified the greatest commandments, but there are many others to follow. It can be focusing on the gifts God has laid in your life. If God calls you do something He will give you the power to do it. Ask God, “What do you want me to do for you?” Without praying to God we will remain unaware of His wishes for us. God will never call us to something we cannot handle.
5. Read Scripture Daily
In order to understand what being a believer means, we cannot solely rely on our feelings about what is right or wrong, or the guidance of other people. God’s Word is the best place to go when your trying to discern how God wants us to live (2 Timothy 3:16). Never take other people’s word (Even a Church leader). It’s called “Testing the Spirit. Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. (1 John 4:1-6). Scripture provides us with a great deal of wisdom on how to live and serve God and others,
6. Fast
You may think ‘Oh, No Really?’ I have always had a hard time fasting. I don’t like to go hungry, One day I asked my pastor about fasting. “What’s the trick to fasting?” I learned there a something called “The Daniel Fast.” Scripture indicates that we can only serve one master (Matthew 6:24). And fasting is a great way to test whether we value something over our relationship with God. To promote our connection to God. If God is to be our priority or first,I’ve, we have to be willing to make sacrifices to ensure this,
7. Obey Him Always
We may not always like what Gods does in our lives, or like what God did in the Bible. However, knowing scripture means realizing how God knows far beyond what we could ever know. God is smarter, wiser, and more powerful than any person can ever become. When God issues a commandment (even a personal one), or duty is to trust and follow Him I whatever’s direction He takes us. I tell you, I love to play bingo, a few years ago I used to go a couple times a week. Then God, to,d me not to go anymore. I had a very difficult time, doing that. But eventually I stopped, in the end I was not disappointed, every time we obey God, He will bless us. But, we have to put our trust in God and put Him first.
From Pity to Praise 