Pray FirstSample

Committed

How can we put God first in our lives? Here are four ways we can do this:

1. Commit to God the first of the year. Dedicate it as holy to the Lord. Invite God to do something new in your life. Read the Scriptures, pray, and discern what you are to give. Ask God, “Is there anything I’m holding back that is not declaring that You are preeminent in my life?” Consider adding fasting in some capacity as a discipline of your devotion. Fasting is simply getting away from the usual, replacing meals, media, or other things, to give extra time to prayer. It is saying “No” to other things so you can give your “Yes” to God.

2. Give God the first of the month. We do this by how we schedule our time, looking at meetings, activities, sports, travel, etc. Decide to honor God. Don’t do too much; just put God first. We also give God the first of our month in how we budget our money. Give to God first. Commit to tithing and working with His people to build the kingdom of God together. Step into the fullness of all that God has created you for and called you to be, especially in the house of God.

3. Give God the first of the week. Make a commitment to being a part of the family of God on the first day of every week. Sunday morning church is a Saturday night decision. Make it non-negotiable. We need each other. Set the day aside to rest and replenish and worship with the people of God, experiencing His presence. Refocus and prepare for the week right. Prepare how you will devote your first and your best. This will change your relationships, your work, and your whole life.

4. Give God the first of the day. Spend daily time with God. We can all do this. Here’s a very simple formula: Spend the first five minutes in the Word, the next five minutes in worship, and the next five minutes in prayer. Start tomorrow. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “We are silent in the early hours of each day, because God is supposed to have the first word, and we are silent before going to sleep, because to God also belongs the last word.”

God, help me to live in a way that declares You are first.

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