Seek Him First.. By Nina Keegan

A Habit by definition is a recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition. 

I have read where it only takes 21 days to make or break a habit.

(Matthew 6:33)

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

This verse in Matthew tells us not just to seek God... But to seek Him first! Give Him the best part of us, the first part of our days. It then states that ALL these things, good and wonderful things, like favor, blessings, and protection will be added to our lives. What an brilliant promise. Seeking God first has become my habit..my " God Habit!"

I am very much a routine kind of person. When I wake up in the morning , as if on autopilot, I  make my way toward the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, prepare for myself the daily usual, then as if all my mornings were etched in stone;  I gather together my Bible, my scripture filled journal, my cozy throw, and nestle into my favorite place on the sunroom sofa. It's there that I wholeheartedly bask in the presence of my precious Lord and Savior. It's together with Him that I declare victories, blessings, wisdom, ability, favor, protection, safety, knowledge, divine health, and discernment, for my family and friends and myself. 

 I thank God with enormous gratitude for all He has done. It's during my time of seeking His will that I learn more about Him and His plans for my life. I will absorb from God through His word, the great messages He longs for me to contemplate and receive.  I know with an undeniable certainty that my day will be far better for having spent time praising the one for whom all things are possible.

My "God habit", is one that without, my day would be very less than stellar and I would feel there to be a nondescript deficit of sorts. My time spent in prayer and reflection with God is like essential food for my soul. It jump starts my day, and fills me with abundant expectation. The word of God replenishes my faith and restores my joy. I can leave all my cares with Him and go about enjoying my day knowing that God is at work and that my morning prayers will be a glorious life line of communication, faith and trust. I pray that He gives me revelation about decisions to be made and questions I need answers to. I fervently come into agreement with God declaring that He orders my steps in the direction He would have me choose. I pray.... about absolutely everything!

(1 Corinthians 11:1 )

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The Bible says we should strive to be more like Christ. We should be his imitators.. Jesus himself had a habit of spending time with His Father..He went off alone to pray and worship. There in the peaceful quiet, Jesus sought His Father's guidance and strength. We must always remember that God has the final say on all things we must seek Him first for direction

Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

The more time we spend with God, the more knowledge of His wisdom, character, and His unconditional love will seep into our souls and we will be forever transformed from Glory to Glory in His image to be an example to others through demonstration of His righteousness and love.

Contrarily, when my prayer routine gets altered or abandoned; it's usually a day that parades itself insufficiently in all areas. When I have not pursued my morning time with God, everything seems a bit disheveled. I feel like those days tend to be  more chaotic, a little more stressful, and things do not seem to flow as well. I can tell there has been a noticeable paradigm shift. I see subtle changes in my character. It may be harder to hold my peace or I may become more easily frustrated and less patient. It appears, on these days, 

"that I am having to do everything the hard way!" 

 I realize that I want to remain closely tethered to God... I want to be on His ordained, peaceful, and joyous path. I want to seek Him first.... Always!

Decide today that you will spend more time seeking God for His will in all you do..

I challenge you to get in the "God Habit!"

  Try seeking Him first for the next 21 days! I promise the more time you spend with Him, the greater, more faith filled, abundant and richly blessed life you will have. Do not waste another day! 

Get in the "God Habit!"

The Desires Of The Heart by Nina Keegan

Psalm 37:4

delight yourself in The Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart..

It's a new year and with that brings all of our pre-set new year resolutions.. We resolute to change that which quite frankly, we have  tried and failed at, at least a few times already .. With shear determination we blaze forward on our pathway of desired success and wholeheartedly believe this time it will be different! 

 

Our declarations are so sure and steadfast.. Let the Nay-Sayers laugh all they want .. We boastfully concur.." they'll see!" This year we will stick it out.. We declare victory!

Oh the weight we will lose , how organized we will be, we will strive to eat healthier as we determinedly rant while stripping our pantries of chips, cookies and all things chocolate..

 We will exorcise more! ... Yup we've already started the new trial gym membership and are decreeing that Zumba will be our new found fave! 

Were definitely going to spend more time with loved ones, finish those abandoned projects and perhaps there are even bigger changes in store for some.  We anxiously anticipate  filling in this new blank script of 365 pages that is just begging to be penned..

 Perhaps your desire is to get married, start a family, go back to college , change careers,  buy a home, or make more money....save more money...  

Our intentions are so positive and ...endless.

 I may be displaying a slight, playful sarcastic view point at the moment  but don't get me wrong,  there is nothing wrong with trying to make positive changes in our lives.. Go for it! But, just maybe.. We are searching in the wrong places for desired and accomplished fulfillment..

Are these really the desires of our hearts.. ? Are the desires of our hearts that the scripture above refers to, the things we really think we want? The things we secretly desire and hope for..? The things we think will bring us continuous joy? 

 I thought about the meaning of that scripture, and decided we look at it entirely wrong. When we Draw near to God, He then will give you what He wants you to desire..He's the one who will authorize what it is He wants you to desire.. So him giving us the desires of our hearts is not him  giving us all the things we want; but  Him giving us the desires to want what He wants us to have.. 

Phil 2:13 

for God is working in you giving you the DESIRE and the power to do what pleases him

God simply wants us to desire Him.. He wants us to follow Him, love Him, trust Him and receive Him with our whole hearts. When we have a relationship with God all of our other fleshly wants become so trivial.. The importance we may have so haphazardly placed on spending more time in the gym pales to the Joy, wisdom, freedom and love we will receive by spending more time in the Word.. God's Word..

If we make it our resolution to surrender our days to Him, to spend more time seeking Him and in praise and worship; 

 the closer we will get to God and we will undoubtedly know his Character and be drawn to His love, peace and thereby acquiring a new found Joy unlike the kind we have seen thus far in this world.. This unspeakable Joy and Heavenly peace is irreplaceable and when we seek Him first we will most assuredly find it.. 

Matt 6:33

Seek him First the kingdom of God and all his righteousness and all these things will be added to it..

When we first have His peace, it naturally makes us better equipped in all other areas of our lives.. We will be more apt to finish what we start., we will have a new " stick to it" mentality that will keep our "new year" momentum in tact.. 

Give Him the best part of you first...  Give him your time, your love , and your praise and He will give you the time you need to fit in all the rest... and to fill in all the blanks..

Get your Bible out and flip through the pages of this anointed book and as you read let the Living Word of our Loving God be the instruction manual as you joyfully write your book.. The new 365 page best seller.. Your story! 

Thank you Father that this new year we seek to know you, to hear from you, to recognize you and to be in your presence.. Draw near to us Lord.. This is the true desire of our Hearts! 

In Jesus name I pray

Amen