By Pastor Chris Davis

Day 18 — First Things First

EXPAND, A Devotional

by Pastor Chris Davis

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 NKJV

Prioritization is a key to success in any arena of life. Setting the right priorities helps you to maximize your time so that you are accomplishing the most important things efficiently and effectively.

I’ve talked to many people who have applied the principle of prioritizing to their days but not to their lives. They have a difficult time keeping first things first. You see it all the time. Maybe it manifests in putting work before family or in some other less identifiable way like backing up on some commitments you made to God because your family has expanded.

Jesus warns of the “cares of life” which have the ability to steal our joy.

If we want to have an effective life then should make sure that first things are first, not just on our to do list but more so in the big picture of our lives.

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22 NKJV

At the beginning of the year, I make it a point to revisit my life’s priorities to ensure that first things are first. I do this because I want to be very intentional accomplishing those things that give me the highest return on my efforts in relation to God’s revealed will for my life. I spend some time with God asking Him if there are things that I need to change or rearrange this year that would be most pleasing to Him. First things are very important to God in fact, the Bible teaches that “first” things belong to the Lord. Often we’re not sure how to identify the importance of one thing over another. Let the spirit of God reveal that you.

Point To Ponder:

What is the Holy Spirit asking of you? Make it a point to put first things first this year and watch everything else be added to you.