I want to draw your attention to a powerful scripture found in the book of Mark 1:35. It says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Imagine that for a moment – Jesus, the Son of God, making it a priority to spend time in prayer before the hustle and bustle of the day began.
Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on our own lives. What consumes your thoughts and actions when you first wake up in the morning? For many of us, it might be a routine that involves getting dressed, having breakfast, navigating through traffic, responding to messages, tackling work tasks, and dealing with the challenges that come our way. The world tends to crowd its way into our daily thinking and actions.
But where does God fit into this routine? Where is His private time with you? It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of the day and forget to prioritize our relationship with God. We have a choice every day – we can choose where to place God in our lives.
God doesn’t want to be second or third place in our lives. He declared, “I am God, and beside me, there is no other.” He is gracious, long-suffering, merciful, and slow to anger, but He desires to be our first priority. Imagine how He must feel when we turn to everyone and everything else before turning to Him.
Starting our day by putting God first is a powerful choice. It means recognizing His importance in our lives and acknowledging that we need His guidance and presence. When we make God our first priority, He becomes an integral part of our day, intervening in ways we may not have thought possible.
Putting God first doesn’t mean neglecting our responsibilities or tasks. In fact, it enhances our ability to navigate through the challenges of the day. When God is at the center of our lives, everything else falls into place. Our day goes better, and we experience a sense of peace and purpose that comes from aligning ourselves with the Creator of the universe.
So, I encourage each one of you to seize the day by making God your first priority. Start your day with prayer, seeking His guidance and wisdom. As you do so, watch how God intervenes in your life in ways that you never thought possible. Let’s not allow the world to crowd out the most important relationship we can have – the one with our Heavenly Father.
