A Prayer to Give God First Priority - Your Daily Prayer - July 29

A Prayer to Give God First Priority
By Keneesha Saunders Liddie

Bible Reading:
Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Listen or Read Below:

If you were to take a break and sit in a semi-dark room with no distractions, what would you say is your number one priority in life? Let me remind you, while you think, that the God we serve is very jealous when things or others are given priority over him. I’m so thankful that I serve a God who is long-suffering and patient. He sees the evil on the earth and the believers losing their first love for him. However, he is just waiting for everyone to come to repentance. So what did you come up with? Who or what is the first priority in your life?

I know many may say their children, careers, or spouses take first place if we were to be honest. But God doesn’t compete with anything or anyone, and he really shouldn’t have to. I’m reminded of the widow of Zarephath, who only had enough to feed her and her son one more time. She knew they were going to die after they had eaten because they would have nothing left. It was extremely difficult for widows in those days without a kinsman redeemer. So, I’m sure she had already run out of hope when the prophet Elijah came to her with his absurd idea. It would have been great to read her thoughts. However, I think her first thought must have been, " This prophet has to be insane.” Yet she quietly explained to the prophet why she couldn’t respond the way he desired. Yet, through her decision, we see her faith in what she knew of the prophet and His God was evident. The widow of Zarephath obeyed God and put the man of God first, and as a result of her obedience, the flour and oil lasted during the whole famine. She placed God first, and God took care of her and her son until the famine was gone. If she had disobeyed God, she and her son wouldn’t have made it through the famine.

Obedience is the key to putting God first. Simply because it’s what he requires and what he deserves. This should be the heart of every believer: to live in a way that puts God first in our lives. To give God priority, one must set aside time to pray, to read God’s word, to fellowship with fellow believers, and to live a life of worship. And we must all do this to the extent that it is clear to others that God is first. When we wake in the morning, we shouldn’t do anything before breathing a word of prayer to the giver of life. He should be on our mind when we wake and the last thing we think of before we sleep. When it comes to our finances, he should receive first priority. I know this is easier said than done because as I’m typing this prayer, I'm stuck in a financial predicament and wondering how I can continue to put God first. I know what I have is from him, and I can only give back a portion of what he has blessed me with. But as things get harder and money seems to outweigh the things we need to put first in our lives, will my faith and trust in Jesus stand the test?

The widow of Zarephath was obedient, but we don’t know her motives for her obedience. Was it so that she and her son would live? Or was it because she trusted in the God she had heard many stories about? We put God first because he gave up his only Son for mere flawed humans. We don’t put him first because we want to receive blessings upon blessings. Our motives should be pure to seek to know God and share in everything he offers us as believers. May we go through this life wanting to put God first. May our lives show to both believers and unbelievers alike that God is first. That He is our priority in this life because the goal is to hear,” Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” The goal is to receive crowns to place them at God’s feet because He is worthy of all praise and adoration. I believe that to be truly successful in this life is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we choose to put God first in all we do. There is no compartmentalization in our lives.

Let’s pray:

Our Father and our God,

Thank you for your goodness to me that extends from generation to generation. What an awesome God you are. There is no one like you and no one deserves the honor and glory that is yours and yours alone. Thank you, God, for your unfailing love and your kingdom that is a part of man’s story. May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Father, I come before you today, asking that you would bless the one saying this prayer. Help me to put you first in every area of my life. May my love for you grow each day as I think of your sacrifice.

Remind me, O Lord, that you are always with me so that when I win, it is you, and when I stumble, you are there. Father, help me to seek first the kingdom of God. I ask that you help me to die daily to my flesh so that I don’t idolize myself or anything you have given to me. This is a new day to serve you, and each day you give, I promise to honor you by putting you first and making you a priority in your life. I pray that all the things you have for me would be added unto me,

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

Keneesha Saunders-Liddie is a wife and mom. She is an avid reader of wholesome romance novels and a writer. She has a Master's in Biblical Counseling as she believes in the sufficiency of Scripture. As a pastor’s kid, she fell in love with the way Jesus loved her at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Him through her words. You can find more musings from her at keneeshaliddie.com

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