I’m SO EXCITED to start memorizing and studying Bible verses with you! It’s WEEK ONE of this 52 week journey, and I know the Lord will bless this time you give to Him. I have a TON of things I want to tell you (see YouTube video below) but I’ll start with what you’re looking for first… THE VERSE OF THE WEEK! Every week you will receive an email with a printable scripture card, PLUS a screen saver you can save to your phone and look at each time you pick up your phone! Since this is the first week, I have a LOT OF THOUGHTS, but I promise your Sunday emails won’t always be this detailed.
This week’s verse is Matthew 6:33-34. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Why this verse first? Because in my heart I feel like this verse is the solution to the world’s problems. What if we lived in a world where everyone was seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness above everything else?
Do me a favor and PLEASE take the time to read the entire chapter of Matthew 6.
The Bible CLEARLY tells us… if we will seek Him FIRST He will provide what we need. First name / Friend, how much time do you spend worrying? How RIDICULOUSLY high are the anxiety and depression rates in the United States? Take a look at what we see each day… if you look closely, most people are seeking material things, external fulfillment, status, promotions, money, notoriety… we could make this list LONG. I do believe God wants to bless His children abundantly. I’m NOT saying having nice things, wealth or success is wrong at all! What I am saying is that God has given us a solution to our worries! What we need to do in 2021 is seek HIM first. He’s going to take care of us. I didn’t say “If we seek Him first we will never have any problems.” God hasn’t promised us a problem free life.
I’ve read numerous personal development books, and if there is one thing I’ve learned it’s “CONSISTENCY IS KEY TO SUCCESS.” So wake up EVERYDAY and talk to God. Read the scripture of the week over and over again. Post it on your fridge, put it in the snack drawer, tape it to your water bottle, hang it in your car, write it down multiple times a day… say it OUT LOUD. (“The Tongue has the power of life and death,” Proverbs 18:21)
I feel like Matthew 6:33-34 lays the perfect foundation for our year. I have no idea what kind of relationship you have with the Lord, or if you have one at all. GOOD NEWS, you get to start one right now, or make the one you already have even more intimate and precious than it currently is.
SO… how exactly do we seek Him first? There are so many ways we can do this, I can’t possibly list them all. (That’s what the Bible is for.) If you’re interested in learning a few ways I think are noteworthy… keep reading.
How do we Seek Him First ?
*Ryan’s Personal Notes
Priorities. “What you focus on expands.” Give Him your time and attention. It’s easy to binge watch TV, but how often do we consistently give God time and space? Do you spend more time practicing sports with your kids than teaching them the word of God? What’s the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about at night? Friend… this is a LEARNED practice. Now’s the time to rearrange that 2021 priority list!
Read His word. Just do it. The Bible gives us wisdom, encouragement, inspiration, direction and comfort.
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Church. Yep. I said it. And for some of you this one really stings. In Hebrews 10:24-25 the Bible says we should not neglect meeting together so we can encourage one another! In Romans 12:4-8 says we each have different gifts, so if you are not gathering with other believers you are denying God’s church the gifts He gave you! THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU! I’m not going to tell you what kind of church you should attend. In fact, there is a song from my childhood I sing all the time and it says…
“You can’t go to church as some people say,
it’s a common terminology we use every day,
you can go to a building, you can sit on a pew,
but you can’t go to church because the church is YOU.”
Don’t just show up to a building and check it off your to-do list. Gather with believers, serve, learn, worship, take communion together, give, confess your sins, and experience the Lord’s presence. I’ve been through a LOT of hard things, but God showed up and took VERY good care of me, and he did that through the CHURCH. Just go.
Follow the 10 Commandments
1- You shall have no other Gods but me.
2- You shall not make for yourself any idol, nor bow down to it or worship it.
3- You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4- You shall remember and keep the Sabbath day holy.
5- Respect your father and mother.
6- You must not commit murder.
7- You must not commit adultery.
8- You must not steal.
9- You must not give false evidence against your neighbor.
10- You must not be envious of your neighbor’s goods. You shall not be envious of his house nor his wife, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Pray.
God doesn’t expect you to seek Him first using your own strength and ability. He understands you will make mistakes. If you mess up (and you will) don’t be discouraged and give up. Ask for forgiveness.
I say this prayer often…
“God I want to do this, but I can’t do it without You.”
Know you are loved,
