AWOE DEVOTIONS

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Are you destroying the things that matter most for things that matter for a moment?
Is it worth it?

There are distractions around us every day that we allow to keep us from our goals in life. It’s not that we can’t accomplish them, but we haven’t mentally prioritized them by importance.

If you’re honest with yourself, you know that putting work before your family, and your family before God, is wrong. In life, our priorities shape our outcomes.

In the Bible, we’re told of a woman named Esther who had to decide what was truly important to her: her life or the lives of her people.

She was the queen who hadn’t revealed her heritage to her king, who had signed a death warrant for her people. In reality, if anyone found out that she was of that same heritage, she could have been under the same warrant.

However, she had to make a choice. Go to her husband and reveal who she was to save her people, or stay quiet, allowing countless lives to be taken.

Now, the odds are you’re not in a situation that’s literally life or death, but in many ways, you’re probably struggling with decisions that affect your relationships in both your personal life and business life.

On one hand, you know you need your job to maintain your lifestyle—the house, car, private education, and basic needs.

In that same reality, you never see your family. You’re overworked, underpaid, and you don’t know what’s going on in your life anymore, yet your first priority is to keep the cushioned lifestyle you’ve built. You’re making the appearance of a lifestyle more important than the relationships around you.

Are you destroying the things that matter most for things that matter for a moment? Is it worth it?

In Esther’s case, her life at the palace versus the lives of her people was a simple choice. She knew who she was on the inside. She knew who her people were, and her priorities were clear. She would risk her life if she could help her people.

Sometimes in life, we have to really consider what God would want us to do instead of doing what man expects us to do.

Much like when we go on a road trip, we have the whole thing mapped out. Sometimes, even when we’re headed in the wrong direction, if everything looks right, we just continue to go the wrong way—even when there are signs that say, “Wrong Way.”

As we’ve entered this new year, I am reminded that God always has a better plan than we have for ourselves. When we make the right decisions, we know it, even if the people around us don’t. Even if we get grief for doing what we know is the right direction in our hearts.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God says He knows the plans He has for us, and it’s a good plan. Sure, it may not feel good getting there, but once you’ve arrived, I know you’ll be more than blessed in all the areas of your life.

The law of his God is in his heart; none of
his steps shall slide.
Psalm 37:31

When we put God first, we can’t help but be successful.

God balances out everything, from our families to our businesses.

Just by walking in the will of God, by seeking His Word and His will in our lives, Matthew 6:33 says all these things shall be added to us!

One of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:19, which states that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

God knows what you need!

AWOE MAGAZINE DEVOTIONS