Seek First

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (NASB).  

So many times, life can be filled with many competing voices all telling us that life can be filled with purpose by doing this, or not doing that, owning this, experiencing that, and on and on it goes. But the truth be told, all those things that the world says are the secret only leave us emptier than before. 

The good news is that God is interested in those longings in our heart. In fact, he has provided all that we need to meet those deep needs and fill that emptiness in our lives. The answer is in the verse I just shared with you. It is through a personal relationship with Jesus and placing the priority of that relationship and his kingdom first.  

No person, no experience, nothing this world has to offer will fill that void other than Christ.  

Today, as you explore the gift of this day God has given you, ask him to show you what putting his Kingdom and righteousness first would look like for you today? Then I urge you to embrace the answer with all your heart! 

Thank you, Jesus, that you have given us all we need in you! 

Sweet Hour of Prayer

 Sweet Hour of Prayer 

 

Today I have been thinking about the old hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” 

The first verse goes like this: 

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, 

That calls me from a world of care 

And bids me at my Father’s throne  

Make all my wants and wishes known! 

In seasons of distress and grief, 

My soul has often found relief, 

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare 

By thy return sweet hour of prayer 

The early church was known by many things, but the power that drove the explosive growth in the book of Acts we read about is the power of prayer. 

In Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer...”  (NIV). 

In Matthew 21:12-13 when Jesus cleansed the temple he said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer...”  (Matthew 21:13, ESV). 

I urge you as you are involved in a week of activity and busyness to take the time to draw away and spend time with Jesus in prayer.

Also, considering being a part of a small group that prays together regularly. The power for all we do as followers of Christ is found in prayer. Prayer is the key.

This morning I paused for a few moments in the sanctuary of the church and prayed the words of this precious hymn. My heart yearned for a “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” 

 

A simple act of kindness

 A simple act of kindness 

 

I recently heard a story about a couple who moved into a brand-new house in a brand-new neighborhood. As they were getting settled in their new home, trash day came. 

 So, they took their trash cans and placed them at the bottom of the incline of their driveway. The next morning the trash cans had been mysteriously returned to their proper place by the house. For the next several weeks this occurred on each trash day. 

They finally found out that a neighbor in his 80’s did that for all his neighbors as a simple act of kindness. What a remarkable story. It is a simple story, but a powerful story.  

In Ephesians 4:32 the Bible says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (ESV). 

You see it is always the right thing to be kind! 

I delight to do your will

This morning in my devotion I read the following verse from Psalm 40:8 that has set my mind to thinking. The Bible says, "I delight to do Your will, O my God."  

 
 

Could I truthfully say this morning that my desire and delight is to do God's will? 

 
 

This morning I woke up to a dreary, rainy, Monday. My first thought was not to go hard charging into the day, but to evaluate what I really needed to do today and what could wait for a better, a sunny day.  

 
 

So, my devotion time had to begin with confessing the obvious that today, my first thought, my greatest desire, the delight of my heart was not to do God's will, but Lord, I sure want it to be. Lord may this verse be true of my heart this day and as I go about the activities of this week.