We can often be pretty selfish. We want to put our desires, our needs, and our plans above everything else. We may still seek God, but we stop seeking Him first. We stop prioritising Him in our lives. We end up just fitting Him in to our busy schedules and only praying when we need something. We can ask God to fulfil our plans, rather than asking Him to help us fulfil His plans for us. But Jesus said: ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.’ When we seek God first, everything else falls into place. We’re not promised everything we want, but we’re guaranteed everything we need. We’re told not to worry about what we’ll wear or what we’ll eat. God is our provider. Jesus says: ‘Don’t worry and say, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them’ (Matthew 6:31-32 NCV). God knows what we need, and when we seek Him first, He’ll provide. But seeking God’s kingdom above all else, requires a sacrifice. ‘Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it”’ (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV). It will cost us something, but it’s worth it. If we’re willing to surrender ourselves to God, He can use us in ways which are beyond anything we’ve ever imagined.

What Now?

Every morning this week, try making Jesus your first thought. Pray before you get up or check your phone.