THE ART OF PUTTING GOD FIRST

I want to talk to you about something that has been on my mind and in my heart for a while and that is
keeping God first.
As Christians we were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Yet, most Christians go through their day never thinking about God at all. All the wonderful things that
God has done for them are either never taught to them or they have forgotten them or they do not
believed the truth of the Epistles. But, where it says that you, Mr. or Ms. Christian, are a child of God is
not a figure of speech, but, is the truth and as such to enjoy the richness and fulness of your relationship
with God and to see signs, miracles and wonders come to pass you need to learn to put God first.
What does “put God first” mean? It means just that! Jesus Christ did.
Mark 1:35 (KJV)
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place,
and there prayed.
We too should pray first thing in the morning and spend some time reading the Bible. I was taught that
if you don’t have time in the morning to pray and read the Bible, fifteen minutes each, you don’t have
time to live. I will tell that you that praying and reading the Bible helps you get the right mind set for the
rest of the day.
TAKE TIME TO PRAY
I got up early in the morning
And rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn’t take time to pray
Problems just tumbled around me
And heavier came each task.
I whined “why doesn’t God help me?”
He said, “you didn’t ask.”
I groaned and shouted and grumbled,
I tried each key in the lock.
I cried “Why doesn’t He open?”
He said, “Son, you didn’t knock.”
So, I got up early this morning
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
I had to take time to pray.
Author UnknownMatthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
Psalm 37:4 (KJV)
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
You see, putting God first is learning to walk with God. It is learning to give God the position that He
deserves. There were two brothers that had had that decision in their own lives and each took a
different path.
Genesis 4:1-5 (KJV)
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man
from the LORD.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of
the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering
unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had
respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.
Abel put God first. All the Great men and women of the Bible put God first. In the Mosaic Law
it was commanded that all give at least one tenth of their wages, profit etc. to God before they
used the other ninety percent.
Malachi 3:7-12 (KJV)
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept
them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein
shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In
tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me
now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your
ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of
hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of
hosts.
Putting God first is as much of a discipline as it is an art. It is a commitment not to be swayed by
the World, but, to be tethered to the goal of putting God first.Do you thank God for your food before you take a bite? if you have an issue with your boss or
your spouse do you pray to God for a simple resolution before you meet with that person? Do
you pray to God for the right answer and the right direction in life’s difficult decisions? What
about the simple things in life? “What route do I take to work?” it could be that there is a traffic
jam along your usual route. God wants to be the God of every aspect of your life. That is why he
chose you from before the foundations of the World.
My God And I
My God and I go in the field together;
We walk and talk as good friends should and do.
We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter
My God and I walk through the meadow’s hue.
He tells me of the years that went before me,
When heavenly plans were made for me to be;
When all was but a dream of dim conception
To come to life, earth’s verdant glory see.
My God and I will go for aye together,
We’ll walk and talk as good friends should and do.
This earth will pass and with it common trifles
But God and I will go unendingly.
You know, you are going to spend the rest of eternity with God. Why not get a jump start on the
competition and build your relationship by putting God first now?