Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me.
– Exodus 20:1-3
During this second week of the “Ten” series, Pastor Tim made the point that if God has His proper place, everything else will fall into place. That sounds simple enough, but our culture teaches us the exact opposite. Society expects us to put our work, social image, family, material possessions, and the opinions of others far ahead of God. It’s all a crazy, anxiety-provoking, self-esteem-crushing race. If we run this race outside of God's track, where is the finish line? It could be a rung on a career ladder, a degree, a house in that perfect neighborhood, or the much-desired approval of a loved one—but, these earthly finish lines end here on earth.
As Pastor Tim reminded us on Sunday, we will have the right perspective when we keep our gaze fixed on God. My perspective changed when I began to dive deeper into my relationship with God.
If putting God first seems overwhelming, begin by counting your blessings. It could be your sight, your hearing, or your family—the things we take for granted are blessings. Acknowledging this is a great way to offer God His proper place in your life. Unfortunately, even our blessings can cause us discontent without the proper perspective.
For example, I thanked God for my ability to feel pain last week! Sounds crazy, right? I developed early cellulitis in my foot last week. It caused me extreme pain, and because of this, I addressed it immediately. My mother, on the other hand, has diabetic neuropathy in her feet, preventing her from experiencing pain like I did. Cellulitis in her foot could become deadly before she even knew it was a problem. My body’s ability to function as designed pushed me to action, and I am grateful for God’s design.
As Pastor Tim reminded us on Sunday, we will have the right perspective when we keep our gaze fixed on God. My perspective changed when I began to dive deeper into my relationship with God.
If putting God first seems overwhelming, begin by counting your blessings. It could be your sight, your hearing, or your family—the things we take for granted are blessings. Acknowledging this is a great way to offer God His proper place in your life. Unfortunately, even our blessings can cause us discontent without the proper perspective.
For example, I thanked God for my ability to feel pain last week! Sounds crazy, right? I developed early cellulitis in my foot last week. It caused me extreme pain, and because of this, I addressed it immediately. My mother, on the other hand, has diabetic neuropathy in her feet, preventing her from experiencing pain like I did. Cellulitis in her foot could become deadly before she even knew it was a problem. My body’s ability to function as designed pushed me to action, and I am grateful for God’s design.
If putting God first seems overwhelming, begin by counting your blessings.
My mother always reminds me, “We are to ask for daily bread.” I encourage you to keep your gratitude simple. When driving to work, thank the Lord for your car, job, or just the breath in your chest. When doing dishes, be glad you had food to make them dirty. If you find time to do this multiple times a day and are open to it, it will shift your perspective to one that is God-focused.
When we place God first, it does not mean the path will be shorter or easier, but you will be far wiser and find peace in knowing you are not alone, and He’s got this. This week, I ask you to sit with this question, “Does my perspective allow me to place God’s will ahead of my own?”
When we place God first, it does not mean the path will be shorter or easier, but you will be far wiser and find peace in knowing you are not alone, and He’s got this. This week, I ask you to sit with this question, “Does my perspective allow me to place God’s will ahead of my own?”
Posted in Devotional
Posted in devotional, ten, ten commandments, perspective, God, first commandment
Posted in devotional, ten, ten commandments, perspective, God, first commandment
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