Asking God to help us seek Him first.
When we realize and admit to ourselves that we need to do a better job of making God our #1 priority, what do we then do next?
I love this prayer by the Psalmist, who is literally asking God to help him and give him the desire to seek Him.
Psalm 119:33-37 "Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your laws, and I will obey them at all times. Explain your law to me, and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart. Keep me obedient to your commandments, because in them I find happiness. Give me the desire to obey your laws rather than to get rich. Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised."
Let us follow David's example and ask God to help us seek Him first.
God has promised that He will help us to do His will.
Philippians 2:13
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
OUR GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS
Several years ago, I prayed and asked God to help me make Him my #1 priority.
I always wanted to seek Him first but I was not doing a very good job of it, trying to do it on my own.
So like the Psalmist, I took it to Him and I asked Him to help me.
I also very specifically started asking Him to give me the strength, motivation and physical energy needed to commit to waking up very early in the morning before anyone else in the house is awake so that I could spend a dedicated, focused, quiet, alone time with Him.
When we sincerely ask God for His help to do His will, He never leaves us hanging.
He wants to help us!
And wow, did God help!
Friend, I am NOT a morning person.
I love to sleep.
I am not ashamed to admit that.
So waking up before anyone else is awake does not come naturally to me.
At all.
I barely had enough energy as is. So, I was nervous that waking up even earlier would leave me with almost no energy left at all.
But I knew I needed to make this commitment.
I wanted to make this commitment.
Most of all, I trusted that God knows exactly how much energy I needed.
I trusted that He would give me the strength that I needed to live each day.
So I prayed. Set my alarm. And trusted the rest to God.
Isaiah 40:31 "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."
And friend, can I just tell you how true this verse is?
When we seek Him first, He will help sort out everything else. I saw this unfold in my life.
He will give us everything that we need:
the strength we need to face each day victoriously,
the patience that we need to persevere through the struggles of the day,
the wisdom that we need to handle things correctly,
and the joy and peace that we need
in order to live each day feeling fulfilled, purposeful and loved beyond measure.
But friend, we need to do our part!
We need to trust Him and seek Him first.
A few years after this prayer, I started going through some health difficulties in my life.
There has been a lot that has happened over the last few years.
But after two miscarriages, an initial diagnosis of secondary infertility, numerous doctors visits and procedures later, I can confidently say that if I did not have God helping me to make Him my #1 priority in my life, I do not know how I would have handled everything that happened.
As undeserving of a sinner that I am, God in His immense absolute mercy and boundless grace, worked miracles and wonders in my life and my faith.
Comforting me as I sat weeping in my kitchen over test reports indicating that something was not right with our baby.
Wrapping me up in His love as I lay on the ultrasound table and heard the words every mother fears to hear,
"I'm so sorry but your baby doesn't have a heartbeat anymore." Flooding me with His peace that passeth all understanding while sitting in my bed painfully miscarrying. Taking captive my fears and casting them out as I prepared
for yet another physically painful procedure.
I asked Him to help me seek Him and friend, He more than helped!
Through Him and in Him, I was provided with everything that I needed to come out of that difficult season of life not feeling empty and bereft, but instead feeling renewed, refreshed and revived in my heart and soul.
Only God can do that, friend. Only God.
ASK HIM TO HELP YOU SEEK HIM
God loves you so much. And He wants you to know Him more. He is waiting for you to spend time with Him and enter into a deep loving relationship with Him.
So I ask you again dear friend, if God is not the absolute #1 priority in your life right now, start by asking Him to help you.
Next, make the choice.
You know your calendar.
Set aside time every single day, for Him.
Give Him your best, not your leftovers.
Start with that commitment, and I promise you, your life will be forever changed.