How to put God first. A guide for every Christian.
I’ll be the first to admit it’s easy to get swept up in the busyness of everyday life. Sometimes I have so much to do that I forget what is truly important: to put God first. Ok, maybe this can sound a little bit too much for some, but please stick with me.
This is about your faith and how you want to remain anchored in it. Between work, errands, family responsibilities, and just trying to keep up with everything, I sometimes find myself halfway through the day before realizing I haven’t even paused to pray or think about God. Does this sound familiar?
Ok, but one thing I’ve learned and I think is incredibly important is that when you decide to put God first, this is not a thing bound to be perfect. It is all about your intention. After a while, I truly realized that it’s those little moments of connection, the quiet prayers, the songs in the car, and even the way I treat others.
When you decide that you are ready to put God first, this doesn’t mean that from then on you will live in full prayer mode. I am still doing the things that I was doing; the difference is that I am also making more space for Him in my life.
Now I want to help you, and I am here to present to you what methods I used and how they are working for me. Ready to change your life?
Your time is a treasure
I’ve come to realize that time is one of the most valuable gifts God gives us. The only problem is that most of us don’t treat it that way. Some days I let them pass by like they are nothing, and other days I am stressed that I am not productive enough. Well, this is not a good way to spend your time, and doing the opposite is actually a good method to put God first.
Just think about it: if time is a gift from God and you realize how precious time is and appreciate it accordingly, you are basically being grateful for this incredible opportunity. For example, the Bible doesn’t tell you to “hustle harder.” It suggests making the most of your time (Ephesians 5:15). That’s a completely different way of thinking.
An interesting thing that I discovered is that lately, I took my time and thought, “How would it be to see the time through a God-oriented lens instead of a worldly one?” Try to look at yourself objectively. When I finally did that, I saw myself wasting time rolling, worrying, or stressing over things that probably won’t matter in a week. Meanwhile, I missed out on a real connection with God, people I love, and even just moments of rest.
Something needed to be done fast. It wasn’t easy, but I have an important tip for you: treating time as a treasure doesn’t mean squeezing in more “stuff.” It means choosing what matters most.
Recognize His power
Ok, I am going to be honest with you; sometimes I catch myself trying to run the whole show. I make my plans, and then I am about to start taking care of my to-do list. I simply act like I am in charge, and everything depends on me.
Sometimes this is exhausting, and at some point, I took a break and asked myself, “Who’s really in control here?” This is when things started to shift. Right now, acknowledging God as King isn’t just a Sunday thing for me.
This is now a daily thing for me. I try to put God first, and I try to remind myself that I don’t have to carry the weight of the world because He already does. When I try to control every little outcome or hold to things too tightly, I get anxious and worn out. This is not for me! I take a deep breath, take a step back, and I tell myself, “God, You are King, and I trust You.”
It’s not always easy. I still stress about my own agenda and worry about my own comfort, but having control is just an illusion. The Scripture reminds me that God is a “great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3) and that He holds all things together (Colossians 1:17).
So each day, I’m learning to let go a little more and acknowledge who’s really in charge. And honestly? It’s freeing. Obviously, I am still the one in charge of my decisions and actions, but God is there to guide me, and I am so happy that now I am aware of this.
Don’t forget about the connection with other people
This is something that took me a long time to accept, but connection doesn’t always come naturally for me. Yes, this is it. This is the reality. Life is busy, relationships can get complicated, and sometimes it just feels easier to keep to myself. After all, it takes effort to reach out, to listen, to really show up for someone.
And I am not the only one who feels like it. There are many people out there who find it really hard to make true connections with those outside their family. What surprised me the most is that these connections are also one way to put God first. But deep down, I know that’s not how we’re meant to live. If you think about it, Jesus didn’t call us to convenience; He called us to love.
Ok, but do we need to love everybody now? Technically, yes. This is what God wants from us. I am very aware that this is hard, but hear me out. You can easily show this love by simply sending the text, making the call, sitting with someone through a tough time, or even just putting down your phone long enough to really hear what someone’s saying. At least this is what I am trying to do, and for now, I feel like it works.
Money is just a tool
We need it to survive, and as a result, money grabbed my focus more often. It is very hard for me to concentrate on what truly matters when I don’t have enough money. And I am sure that this happens to many other people. I concluded that this is somehow natural. After all, we are all just trying to survive.
But the problem is that money is a trap, and even when you have enough to have a decent life, you might tend to still focus on it. Yes, sometimes it can seem like money equals more freedom, more comfort, and more control, but is this true?
Hopefully, God’s been gently reminding me that money isn’t the prize; it’s a tool. It is something He’s entrusted to me, not to build my kingdom, but His. I use the money to live a decent life so I can worship Him better and spread His word. When I view money as a means and not the end, something changes in my heart. I’m less stressed, less obsessed with having the newest, the best, or the next big thing.
It’s not about guilt. I still believe we can enjoy the things God allows us to have. But I also want to live with open hands, not clenched fists. Money will come and go, but my faith will last forever.
This book might help you through your journey: The Power of Surrender: Let God take control
You should also read: 7 Ways You’re Saying “No” to Heaven
