Seeking God

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

Jesus said to seek God first. Specifically, to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”. To seek is to look for, to search out, to actively desire to find. We are all seeking something: love, success, fame, fortune, fulfillment. But how do we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness? What is his kingdom, and what is his righteousness? And how, exactly, do we seek them?

Notice that Jesus did not say “seek righteousness”. He said seek God’s righteousness. Striving to attain righteousness on our own will always fail. All the good works, all the self-improvement in the world will never make us righteous. Only God’s grace can do that. And what is the kingdom? Heaven, the life after?  It’s so much more. God’s kingdom is right here on Earth; it’s his will, his plan, his good work shaping all of creation. We are called to be a part of that – to build his kingdom, to spread his glory.

So to seek these things first means to put our relationship with God (note: not our religion) above all else. Read and study the Word; practice what it says; praise and worship; fellowship with other believers; give thanks in all things. It’s not a to-do list to check off each day or you fail; it’s a way of life to practice and grow. It’s a process. It takes faith and obedience to focus our spiritual eyes on God’s kingdom and righteousness, and not on the earthly needs and desires in our lives. This is why Jesus says “all these things will be added to you” – referring to food, clothing, and our lives as whole. In the supernatural providence of God’s grace, these things will be provided for us without our anxious striving. We need only put him first.

 

with your time

When Less is Not More

I intentionally avoid the news. Too much bad nearly breaks me – I’m one of those highly-sensitive types. But the news still finds me. With every school shooting or police officer death or racial-tension-fueled hate crime, my heart breaks, and I feel so small. So small in a big, big world full of ugly. Too small to be of any account…

with your talents

Our Purpose – God’s Way

At twenty, I knew my purpose in life. I was going to be an artist, maybe own an art supply store. I was going to get married soon out of college, have six kids, and sit on the wrap-around-porch of a big farmhouse out in the country watching those kids play on our land. I’m not sure how those two dreams fit together, but there you go. It was my Purpose…

with wisdom

Remember… and Live Abundantly

It’s finally spring here in Michigan! We’re  seeing buds on the trees and flowers blooming in our gardens. There are finally green shoots peeking up, promising new life. That’s what we love to celebrate in spring, isn’t it? New life! Spring is the year’s new beginning, everything starting again fresh and new. As believers we celebrate new and eternal life because of Easter…

Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 6

We’ve made it to the final six points of our list of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! You can read all about the inspiration for this list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. So to recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter. But it also set off some warning bells. The Bible says to “test everything”…

Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 5

Welcome to part 5 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! If you’re just joining us, this a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter…

Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 4

Welcome to part 4 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! If you’re just joining us, this a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter…

Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 3

Welcome to part 3 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! If you’re just joining us, this a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. Today we’re checking out #11-15 of the list. To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom…

Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 2

Today is part 2 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”, a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. Today I’m looking at #6-10 of the list (there are 31 items total!). To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter…

Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1

Today I read one of those “copy and share” posts on Facebook. This one is called “Rules for My Daughter”. It resonated with me – but it also set off some warning bells. One of the devil’s greatest weapons is subtle lies: things that look good or feel good but are just a little twisted from God’s truth. As I read this list…

with hope

An Easter Birthday

My 33rd birthday fell on Easter Sunday.  In my  lifetime the latest Easter has ever been was April 23rd, in 2000.  My first thought at realizing that year’s date was “I will be the age Jesus was when He died on that cross”.  Then I thought, “What have I done in my 33 years that could possibly compare to His?”  I had been thinking on this for months…