When we put things in order, everything else falls into place. When there is disorder, it’s usually because our priorities are misplaced, and out of order. Setting our priorities are the most foundational things to the good work of establishing our lives.
Getting things into alignment might take work but the diligence put forth is needed and worthwhile. It requires our understanding that the affection of our hearts and our desires must go to the Living God. Everything else will flow correctly from that!
1. First, let’s understand the Order: Our devotion to God must take priority over other things and other people. We must put Him first in all that we do. Each of our days must start and stop properly, with attention and connection given to Him, and everything in between aligning with the love of our lives, and the will of our most Holy God!
Scripture: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6:33, (NKJV).
2. Secondly, let’s understand the Focus: We are not our own, we belong to God, we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus, and we have been created by God, and redeemed by His plan of salvation for us, and have been masterfully designed for the purposes He has already planned for us beforehand, that we should walk in them. When we think it’s about pleasing others or pleasing ourselves we get it wrong. We are not to be men-pleasers for the praise of man, or to seek self-gratification, but we are to do and be what is pleasing to God. When we get that focus right, we will then be considerate, and respectful, and treat ourselves and others properly, and we will fulfill every one of our purposes without missing a beat.
Scripture: “Not with eye service, as men pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord and not to men.“ Ephesians 6:6,7, (NKJV).
3. Thirdly, let’s understand our Desires: Our cravings should not be for the company or the attention of another person, or other people, or for belonging, community, significance, indulgence, or for food, money, alcohol, fame, fortune, sex, prestige, pleasure, power, popularity, approval, a better body, wealth, more free time, adulation, freedom of expression, our rights, our way, acknowledgement, praise, appreciation, promotion, importance, a perfect family, a better upbringing, a greater spouse, a nicer house, children who like us, friends who adore us, parents who support us, to live forever, to go on trips, to do something famous, more time, more love, less loneliness, less pain in our lives, or less suffering, or what our neighbors have, what our friends are doing, what’s trending, or what’s popular, what other churches have, the best answer, the best grades, the best ideas, more movie time, more chill time, more intimacy, more feelings of closeness, more romance, more attention, more shopping, more spending, more fixing this up, more opportunities, more activities, more importance, more involvement, less work, less duties, less responsibilities, less stress, less expectations of us, more me time, less yard work, less housework, less school work, a greater democracy, a freer nation, a better leader, a better parent, a better pastor, nicer drive-through workers, nicer people going through the drive thru, fewer people crossing our grain, or any other selfish desires, or earthly gratifications or rewards, or for anything else that feeds our flesh or carnal nature— or anything else that would lend itself to the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life!
The love of God is more that enough to fill us, satisfy us, sustain us, and to supply our every need, and His fellowship is pure and holy, and undefiled. He says be holy as He is holy. From this place of devotion to Him, where we are given complete fulfillment, and complete joy and satisfaction in His presence and in His love for us, (Psalm 16), we can then love and bless and serve our fellowman.
If we find ourselves empty or needing anything else from any other source, we need to recognize that we have neglected our first love, and must return to our time with Him, in His presence, saturated in His love and His Word, and to our complete and humble reliance on and devotion to Him, our One and Only, the Creator, and the One who loves us purely, wholly, and unwaveringly, and gave himself for us sacrificially, and is coming back for us, to be without spot or wrinkle, and without offense.
Scripture: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” 1 John 2:15, (NKJV).
Conclusion: So we must carry out the will of the One who has sent us, who has saved us and who has healed us. We must walk with diligence the path He has set before us. We must remember that only two of the 12 people who went to check out the land promised actually went back in and received the promise, and inhabited the land, they were Joshua and Caleb. The others were given the same promise, but they did not receive it, nor inhabit it, because of fear, doubt, complaining and unbelief.
So believe with me today that God’s ways are best, trusting in Him and His ways, and His Word will prove fruitful for your life and beyond!
Start and end your day in the love of God, forgive those you need to forgive, ask for forgiveness yourself, do your work and your job diligently as unto God, keep your desires for Him, keep your focus on Him, do things in the right order with the right priorities, for Him and for His purposes, and you will never lack for anything you need. God will supply all that you have need of by His riches in glory, through Christ Jesus. Just give your full and complete devotion to Him!
Be Blessed and Stay Devoted!
