7 Habits of Highly Effective BelieversSample

Habit #3 is to put first things first.

Mark 1:35 says, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”

Jesus was putting first things first.

Daniel 6:10 says, “Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. He bowed down on his knees three times daily to pray and praise God. Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray. He went up to the upper room of his house and opened the windows that faced toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel bowed down on his knees and prayed just as he always had done.”

Daniel was putting first things first.

Psalms 55:17 says that David sighed and prayed to God morning, noon and night.

David was putting first things first.

Matthew 6:33 says, “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

Jesus tells us what to put first.

Why is it that even though you know what you should be putting first, you don’t?

What if I asked the question like this, “what would your life look like if you were putting the correct things first?”

How would you be feeling?

What would you be thinking?

What sort of friends would you be hanging around?

Have you ever thought about why the devil wants to distract you in this area?

What do you think the devil feels when you don’t put God first?

If you want to be an effective believer, you have to put the right things first. If Jesus, Daniel, and David share with us what they put first, don’t you think it’s a good idea to follow suit?

Matthew 22:37-38 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.”

When was the last time you took inventory of your heart, soul, and mind? If it has been a long time, why do you think it has taken so long?

What is holding you back from checking the balance in these areas?

My hand is up. I was guilty as charged in all of these areas. My focus was in the wrong places. I was too busy to become aware of these areas. And you know what, that is exactly what the devil wants to do to you. He wants to keep you so busy with so many things that you don’t keep Jesus first. If the devil gets you distracted, he wins. He doesn’t have to beat you. He just needs to distract you, and you will beat yourself.

I want to challenge you to do the work.

Study these verses and the lives of Jesus, Daniel, and David. I know you want to be effective. I know you want to change. I know you want to live your life maxed out.

I’m challenging you to put first things first. You are on your way to becoming a highly effective believer when you put first things first.

Let me know what resonated with you.

I’m rooting for you.
Coach Anthony Thompson