Putting God First: A Life of Faith and Surrender

Every part of our lives needs a spiritual tune-up from time to time. Just as a car needs regular maintenance, our spiritual lives need moments when we stop, reflect, and ask ourselves: Are my priorities aligned with God’s priorities? It is easy to begin with good intentions, but over time, we can become distracted, comfortable, or careless. God continually invites us to realign our hearts with Him.

Jesus gives us the foundation for this in Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else.” When we put God first, everything else begins to fall into its proper place. Seeking God is not about becoming perfect. It is about continually moving closer to Him and becoming more like Christ.

One way we put God first is by giving Him the first part of our day. The morning gives us an opportunity to focus our hearts and minds on Jesus before the demands of life begin. Psalm 5:3 speaks about bringing our requests before God in the morning and waiting expectantly. Jesus Himself demonstrated this priority by getting up early to pray in a quiet place.

We are also called to put God first in the first part of our week. Gathering together with other believers is an important part of Christian life. Hebrews 10:25 encourages believers not to neglect meeting together but to encourage one another. Church is not simply about attending a service. It is about being part of God’s family, loving others, serving, encouraging, and growing together.

Another area where we can put God first is our finances. Giving is an expression of trust and obedience. The message encourages us to give first, give a percentage, and increase our giving as our faith and ability grow. Giving reminds us that God is our provider and that everything we have ultimately comes from Him.

Finally, we can put God first through fasting and prayer. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us step away from normal comforts and intentionally pursue God. It can be a time to examine our priorities, seek His direction, and remind ourselves that He matters more than the things of this world.

Putting God first is not about pressure, guilt, or perfection. There will be days when we fail. There will be times when our priorities become misplaced. But God’s grace gives us the opportunity to begin again.

The challenge is simple: Put God first in your day, your week, your finances, and your spiritual life. Seek His Kingdom, follow His priorities, and trust Him with the rest. As we continually pursue Him, our hearts, relationships, choices, and lives can be transformed.