Chapter Two of the God First Life by Stovall Weems

Chapter Two Order and Blessing

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Overall, everyone pretty much wants the same things: s good job, financial security, meaningful relationships, love. God-first living is the only way to receive the blessing we instinctively seek. No matter how much success, fame, or money we have, if our priorities are out of whack, none of those things will make us happy. Happiness isn't about more, better, or greater; it's about order.

This paragraph says it all, "This is why Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. When we do that, 'all these things' will be added to us. He meant that a life of anxiety is never an issue of unmet need but always an issue of disordered priorities. If we get the order right, God promises to meet our needs, with unexpected blessings attached. When we strive to set our own priorities, however--when we put God way down the list--we miss out on a life marked by blessing and peace."

What this says to me is, if I put God first, I don't have to worry about anything else. He has promised to take care of them for me. All I have to do is put Him first. It seems the more we try to get our lives under control through our own efforts, the more our lives control us. And while our lives control us, things that will build our lives and restore our souls go unattended.

When we worry and stress over money, love, material possessions, security, popularity, it distracts us spiritually. When we seek those things first, when that becomes our primary goal, over seeking God and putting him first, our life is out of balance. Putting God first doesn't undo bad choices, but it's the first step toward regaining the peace that has been lost.

So, what did we learn with this chapter? "God must be first. He cannot be second. We yield to a God whose authority brings an empowering blessing, not an oppressive burden. He can satisfy and fulfill us in ways that no person, place, or thing ever will. He created us to find supreme joy only in him, in a profound relationship with the Creator of the universe." The creator of the universe, the one who hung the stars, knows your name and he wants to bless you!