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The principle of "Seeking God First Each Morning" offers a transformative approach to our daily lives. In the quiet of the morning, before the day's demands intrude upon our peace, prioritizing time with God sets a foundational tone for everything that follows. This practice is not just a routine but a vital connection that aligns our hearts, minds, and spirits with God’s Kingdom purposes.
When we awaken, the temptation is to dive into our tasks, check our devices, or plot out our day based on personal agendas. However, the Scripture invites us into a deeper rhythm of life, one where seeking God's presence and guidance is our first act. Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:33 reminds us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," assuring us that all else will find its place in accordance with His will.
This act of seeking God each morning is more than a discipline; it's a declaration of our dependence on and trust in Him. It's acknowledging that before we can be effective in any endeavor, we need the wisdom, strength, and grace that only God can provide. This time of communion sets our hearts on a higher kingdom agenda and tunes our spirits to the Holy Spirit's leading throughout the day.
By dedicating our first moments to God, we essentially place a hedge of protection around our hearts against the distractions and temptations that will come. It's an intentional positioning of ourselves under God's sovereignty and care, recognizing that as we draw near to Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8). This practice doesn't ensure a day without challenges, but it equips us to face whatever comes with a Kingdom perspective filtering everything through our Kingdom purpose.
Moreover, this morning alignment with God's presence reinforces our identity as His children, reminding us that our actions and decisions should reflect His kingdom's values. It's a daily recommitment to being ambassadors of Christ, where our words, thoughts, and deeds are inspired by our intimate connection with the Father. Just as a plant leans towards the sunlight to grow, so too our souls lean towards the light of God’s word each morning, growing in grace and truth.
Therefore, making the pursuit of God's presence the first priority of our day is not a burdensome task but the highest privilege and greatest strategy for living a life of purpose and peace. It is in these moments of early devotion that we find the strength to resist the pulls of the world and the flesh, maintaining our focus on eternal matters over temporal ones. Through this daily act of seeking God first, we become anchored in His love and purpose, ready to face the day's tasks with a heavenly perspective and a heart full of His peace.
When we pause to consider the teachings of Jesus, we encounter a challenge that flips our world upside down. "Seek first the kingdom of God," He instructs us. Often, our natural inclination is to prioritize our own needs—we worry about our livelihood, our earnings, our clothing, and our food. Our primary focus tends to be on how we can ensure our own well-being rather than on pursuing the kingdom of God. Yet, Jesus calls us to a radical reordering of our priorities: establish a right relationship with God above all else and let this be the foremost concern of our lives, relegating all else to a secondary position.
"Do not worry about your life..." Jesus addresses the foolishness of excessive worry about our material needs from His perspective. He is not endorsing a careless or reckless approach to life; rather, He emphasizes the importance of focusing on our relationship with God as the central aspect of our existence. Everything else should fall into place around this central commitment. Jesus warns us against allowing the pursuit of material needs to dominate our lives. Instead, He urges us to be exclusively focused on God, trusting that our other needs will be met in accordance with His will.
Being carelessly concerned with the mundane aspects of life can lead to neglect and consequences; yet, Jesus teaches us that our primary responsibility is to cultivate a deep and abiding relationship with God, placing this above all other concerns. This requires a disciplined commitment to living in alignment with Jesus' teachings, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into a life that truly reflects the heart of God. It's a challenging call to discipleship, pushing us to trust in God's provision and care above our own understanding and efforts.