“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NRSV
Series: Everyday Apprentice
Devotional: 13 of 13
From one season of our lives to the next, we often find ourselves at a fork in the road. Moving forward with the status quo is no longer an option. A decision must be made. Do we go left? Do we go right? Does it even matter to the Lord which way we go?
God does care deeply about every aspect of our lives. No matter how big or small a decision may feel, He longs to guide us as we navigate life's natural twists and turns. As we wrestle with how to move forward, the Lord begins to slowly but purposefully speak the words of Matthew 6:33 over us. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
But what does it practically mean to "seek first the kingdom?"
In response to this question, James Bryan Smith wrote, "It means making the reality and the principles of God's kingdom our first and primary concern." From this new vantage point, we are continuously learning to let core kingdom practices like prayer, fasting, and seeking wise counsel shape our decision-making.
Prayer purifies our motives and softens our hearts. As we increasingly make Jesus the center of all we do and say, we learn to "ask, seek, and knock" for things that advance His Kingdom and bring glory to His name (see Matthew 7:7-8). In time, our posture begins to shift, making it possible to pray: "Lord, I will do whatever you want me to do. I will go wherever you want me to go. As long as I can do it with you."
Fasting drives us into a posture of dependence on God alone (See Ezra 8:23). In many ways, fasting is like a pressure test that reveals the true condition of our hearts. Fasting, therefore, becomes the training ground where we give the Holy Spirit permission to align our hearts with God's will.
Seeking wise counsel invites other apprentices of Jesus into key moments of our lives (See Proverbs 11:14). In this safe space, we humbly acknowledge our blind spots and our need for others to speak wisdom and truth into our situation. No decision in the kingdom of God, even the seemingly insignificant ones, is made in isolation. Every decision ripples through the larger community.
Today, take a few moments to slow down and get quiet before the Lord. No matter how big or small the decision you face, bring it to the feet of Jesus. You can trust Him to guide you and be your faithful companion through every season of life.
OnThe3rdDay Devotionals
Devotionals that illustrate Biblical principles in a simple and short format that can be applied to your everyday life.
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