Put God First.
Most of us have heard some iteration of the above. It sounds simple, but walking it out is something a bit more difficult.
Why? Because we live in a fallen world and distractions are everywhere (Romans 5:12-13). There will always be an abundance of distractions to keep our focus away from the one and true living God. But the only one that benefits from our distraction is the devil. His focus is to keep us distracted and thus, disconnected from our Heavenly Father (John 10:10).
Why should we keep God at the center?
Look no further than the first commandment.
And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:1-3 NKJV
The Lord commands it. When Jesus was questioned about which commandment was the greatest, He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) In order to fully benefit from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we are commanded to place no one before God. We are instructed to love Him with all of our beings.
Is it possible to live with God front and center?
We must be diligent in guarding our hearts and keeping God central to our lives. Our feelings are fickle. In Jeremiah 17:9, he calls the heart deceitful. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” We set up boundaries to keep us safe, yet so often we guard our hearts against the only one that can bring true healing. Only God, the creator of all things, knows the inner workings of the heart. If we don’t keep Him at the center, how can we process emotions and thoughts in the light of His wisdom?
But there is additional instruction for our thoughts and actions. Proverbs 4:26 tells us to, “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.” Our minds are key to how we respond to challenges and move through life. If we look at our actions and see that they need changing, the main approach is through our minds. We have to make a decision to act. So as we feed our minds with the Word of God, our actions change. Our paths straighten. Our lives become transformed.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) says, “23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Everything that we do should be done in service to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the glory of God.
By monitoring our distractions, we can evaluate where we are and take steps to shift God to the center of our lives (Proverbs 4:24). Romans 12:2 is a call to not be conformed to this world. Yet the only way we can do that is to know what the Word of God says and filter what we allow to pour into us. How often do we take inventory of the voices that speak into our lives, the places we frequent, and the content we consume on the internet?
Be sure to check us out next week when we will be breaking down, Why the Bible is a Window, not a Mirror.
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