Putting God First

Luke 14:26 King James Version.
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
In the beginning of my walk with Jesus this verse bothered me. I could not wrap my head around why I must hate my family to love God properly. Why couldn’t I just love them both equally but differently like I do my spouse and children? How could I ever get to the point of loving God so much I hated my family? Was this even possible?

Many years later, as my faith became stronger and more knowledge based, I revisited that very question. How do I put God first? The Greek word is 
miseō (mis-eh’-o) μισέω, which means to love less. So in other words I am supposed to love my family less than God. That made more sense than I expected to hate them. Still feeling confused and like I was missing something I went to God and asked. I asked him to provide me with clarity and wisdom. I asked for a deeper understanding of the subject and the motivation to successfully get to that point in my life.

Not long after, the pieces came together like never before. Matthew chapter 6:33 reads, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. I was starting to learn If I put God first, all else will fall into place. He will not only lead, guide, direct and protect me, but my family as well. By putting Him first and relinquishing my life to Him, I am giving my family the best possible security I can.

Today, I put God first because I know he will never leave me nor forsake me. He makes a way before me and will never tempt me beyond my capacity without providing a solution. He tells me all things and never changes. He cannot lie and is always looking out for my best interest.  He blesses me abundantly and his grace covers me completely. By putting God first I am forming a bubble of protection around my family in a sense. I know by prioritizing God, everything else will be taken care of, including my family.



How to Put God First

Make Him your very first thought every morning. In the past, the moment my eyes opened my first thought would be whether I had to work or not. With practice, I now thank our heavenly Father for another day to live and another opportunity to serve Him. Each and every day is a blessing and should not be taken for granted. I want my first and last thought everyday to always be God. A major step in putting God first is to make Him your very first thought.

Another way to put God first is to thank him continually for the day to day things. If you get a raise at work, praise God for it. If you slipped but didn’t fall and bust your head open, thank God for your fortune. Maybe your utility bill was a few dollars cheaper, or the day went by without so much as a hiccup. Remember to count your blessings each and everyday and don’t forget about the little things. The little things are so often missed and taken for granted. Just the fact that your eyes are open, you are breathing without help, and your legs function enough to carry you, are more blessings than some people have. Never forget all you possess comes from the Lord. Your physical health, job, financial stability, vehicle, home, mental health, the list goes on and on. If you can’t find a blessing, try changing your perspective.

Trusting in God and His plan for your life goes hand in hand with putting God first. Relinquish the fight to maintain control and allow His will to take precedence in your life. Before making any decisions that have any kind of impact, ask for His counsel and guidance. Pray for His blessings to lead your life according to His will. God has a much better plan for us than we do ourselves. We just have to stop getting in the way and be a willing servant. He will give you sound advice and help in your endeavors only if you are a faithful servant. Philippians 4:6-7 reads
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
And Proverbs 16:3 reminds us,  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Lastly, reading the Bible is a great way to be God oriented. By keeping scripture fresh in your mind it also stays close to your heart. Matthew 15:11 KJV, states “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” What you feed your mind will ultimately come out of your mouth. The more you focus on scripture and God, the more it will show in your life as well. The living word will transform your life in unimaginable ways, you just need to read it. The Bible is essentially a guide on how to make it during the time we are in the flesh. It tells us what to eat and what not to eat. It gives answers on how to deal with sickness and disease. It teaches us how to be neighborly and a good friend. The Bible was written to study and implement in our daily lives.


Am I perfect and where I ought to be? No. I am sure my faith could be stronger and my patience longer. But if I look into the past compared to today I have made leaps and bounds in progress. I have a more Christ centered life and strive to serve him each and everyday. I look forward to His guidance and counsel with every decision and remember to thank Him for the abundance of blessings. I tell God often I love Him and ask Him to make known His plan for my life. So that I may follow His will and not my own. I aspire to be a woman after God’s own heart.

Of course, these are not the only ways a person can create a God centered life. There are hundreds of ways to accomplish this. As humans we all have free will. God will never force anyone to do anything. Isn’t that the ultimate test? To see whether we choose God or follow Satan. Everyday is a choice that either brings us closer to God or further away. LITTLE STEPS EVERYDAY MAKE HABITS STAY. What direction are you heading today?