What takes first place in your life? We can be tempted to think that money, popularity, relationships, success, important titles, and material things are the way to happiness. We can put those things first in our lives, forgetting that what really matters is God and His kingdom. When we lose sight of what really matters, we can become stressed and anxious. We think we need to provide for ourselves, that we need to keep up with everyone else, and that we’re not valuable if we don’t have the things the world tells us we need. But living God’s way means we’re at peace because we’re living for the approval of God, not people. He’s the One who provides for our needs. And in Him we find our value and identity. The Bible says: ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’ So what does it mean to seek the kingdom? Here are a few ideas: 1) We look out for opportunities to serve other people and put them above ourselves. 2) We sacrifice our time, gifts, and resources to help bring kingdom values such as peace, love, and joy to those around us. 3) We look to God when we’re making decisions, and ask Him to help us walk in His will. 4) We rely on Him to meet all our needs, and trust that He has good plans for us. In Micah 6 it says: ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (v.8 NIV). That’s how we live the kingdom way. So let’s start living for what really matters.

What Now?

Before you do anything more today, ask God to help you live the rest of the day with Him, and His kingdom, as your priority.