First Things First

 

First Things First

1 Timothy 2: First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; ² for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct. 

 

============

 

When the alarm sounded, I jumped out of bed with my mind racing! I calculated the time it would take to get to my destination so I showered, gathered my stuff and ran to the car. Unexpected traffic hit, so I listened to voicemail and responded to messages. Still stuck in traffic, I called into the meeting I was missing. Chaos and firefighting commenced throughout the day. I was exhausted that night.

 

• My mind was racing all day.
• I had not taken a moment to ease into the day.
• I placed the worries of the day over speaking to the LORD.

 

Paul turns from encouraging Timothy to providing him with valuable instructions on how to lead a group of people in a collected time of worship. “First of all” Paul says, probably meaning this is the most important thing you can do. Speak to the LORD.

 

My Observations

• Before I do anything, GOD wants me to speak to HIM.
• Before I begin my day, GOD wants me to ask HIM , pray to HIM, request from HIM and thank HIM.
• Before I start anything I do, GOD wants me to pray for those in authority, showing my willingness to agree with GOD’s appointment of authority so we can live in peace.

 

Prioritizing speaking to GOD is highly important. I mean, HE wants daily communication with me so I can be successful in all HE wants me to do. Unfortunately, I give in to the world’s pull and I focus on worry, or problems, or sickness or pain. My mind races without rest. BUT GOD gives me a way to have peace.

 

HE simply says “Give it to ME.” But how LORD? “Pray.” Prayer is the only thing that I can manufacture that can make it into heaven. My petition, prayer request and thanksgiving are heard and loved by the MOST HIGH! I am so glad GOD wants me to speak with HIM so HE can hear me and give us a “quiet and peaceful life.”

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer speaks about prayer first?
• Have you ever ignored GOD and had a bad day, month, year or decade?
• Will you place speaking to GOD first about your actions so HE will guide you and lead you to a quiet, peaceful life with all reverence toward HIM with proper conduct today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please bless this reader with full knowledge of YOUR plan today. Please guide those who YOU placed in authority to follow YOUR ways so we may have a quiet and peaceful life. We revere and honor you LORD to guide our conduct today. amen

Decisions, Decisions

 Decisions, Decisions

1 Corinthians 7: ³⁶ In the case of an engaged couple who have decided not to marry: if the man feels that he is not acting properly toward the young woman and if his passions are too strong and he feels that they ought to marry, then they should get married, as he wants to There is no sin in this. ³⁷ But if a man, without being forced to do so, has firmly made up his mind not to marry, and if he has his will under complete control and has already decided in his own mind what to do—then he does well not to marry the young woman. ³⁸ So the man who marries does well, but the one who doesn't marry does even better.

 

============

 

As I sat and pondered my decision making, I noticed a trend. When I used my own greed, lusts and fears to make a decision, the results were catastrophic. But when I followed GOD’s leading and used faith, love and HIS purpose, I was always successful.

 

• There have been times when I made poor decisions based on arguments.
• There have been times when I made poor decisions based on faulty facts.
• There have been times when I made poor decisions based on trying to get what “I” wanted.

 

Paul discusses a difficult topic that was asked to him. “Should an engaged couple break up?” Paul addressed this by speaking of the root of decision making. GOD has to be in the middle of all decision making.

 

• GOD wants me to ask HIS opinion first before doing anything large or small.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS opinion first before making a decision.
• GOD wants me to align my decision making with HIS so I can have no regrets.

 

Having regrets means deep down inside, I made a decision that did not align with GOD. I mean, I can try to justify my sinful decision, BUT GOD lives inside me and knows the most hidden decision. HE searches every crack and crevasse of my heart and exposes what is inside.

 

When I use the fruit of the Spirit to the best of my ability, I have no regrets for any of decision I make. It means I am fully aligned with the will of GOD and my decisions are pleasing to HIM.

 

• What decisions are you trying to make?
• Do you have a decision to make that needs to go before GOD?
• Will you seek GOD’s advice before you make any more of your decisions today?

Cleared Path

Isaiah 45: ² I will go before you
    and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
    and cut through bars of iron.
³ I will give you hidden treasures,
    riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
⁴ For the sake of Jacob my servant,
    of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
    and bestow on you a title of honor,
    though you do not acknowledge me.
⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other;
    apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
    though you have not acknowledged me,
⁶ so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides me.

============

Worried about my future, I sat in my apartment thinking about the test I failed. “How will I get a job? Will I be a janitor forever?”, I thought to myself.

• There were times when I thought the path was closed.
• There were times when I thought I had no future.
• There were times when I thought nothing “is” going right so nothing “will” go right.

Looking at my current abilities was the problem. I mean, I had no idea what was in store for me in the future. All I knew was I failed a test and I may not graduate. BUT GOD saw way ahead.

• GOD saw my problems way before they happened and leveled the mountains.
• GOD saw the situations way before they happened and broke the gates of bronze.
• GOD saw me and made me so HE provided hidden treasures stores in secret places where no human or foe could steal it.

GOD summons me by name and bestows a title of honor on me though I did not acknowledge HIM. HE gave me the ability to graduate and have an illustrious career that I never should have had. HE is the reason for all of my blessings. I acknowledge HIM.

• Do you have obstacles?
• Does you path seem blocked?
• Will you acknowledge GOD’s power and allow HIM to deliver you?
• Will you put your wholehearted trust in HIM and let HIM clear your path?

Each Request has to be Blessed

Psalm 127:¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

============

Broken glass and missing tapes were the only evidence of my problem. It took me years to collect this group of sounds. I started over. I locked my car like a warden and hid my collection under the seat. Five years of amassing a wealth of music, broken glass, a dent and missing tapes showed that my efforts of protecting my precious melodies were in vain.

• Sometimes I think “I” can protect “my” wealth.
• Sometimes I think “I” can protect “my” possessions.
• Sometimes I think “I” can protect “my” ideas.

Many times I have run into situations where “I” thought “I” could think my way out. I would plan, put contingencies in place and execute my plan only to have that plan fail. I roll around on the ground asking “what went wrong?” GOD answered.

• GOD says to me “Unless you include ME in your plans first, they will not succeed."
• GOD says to me “The bigger the plan the more reliance you will have on ME.”
• GOD says to me “Don’t worry about stuff that can rust or moths can eat, think of ME.”

Having a relationship with GOD is so much more important than getting “my” way. When GOD is involved in my life, my plans become HIS. When HIS plans are enacted, no one or nothing can stop them. Unless GOD is involved, my labor is in vain, but when GOD is involved the fruit is plentiful!

• Are you losing sleep?
• Do you feel exhausted?
• Can you give your efforts over to GOD and let HIM solve the problem?
• Will you take your hands off the situation and stop thinking you have to be in control?
• Will you be content with GOD’s way of solving the problem?