8 Proven Benefits Of Putting God First In Your Life

Putting God first in your life is the ticket to enjoying sweet fellowship with Him.

The modern world is full of distractions that can seem like a tall order to many.

So many things require our attention that we end up overlooking our relationship with God. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Not everything that distracts us is bad. Our jobs, family, hobbies, and friends are okay. However, they can be sources of distraction at some point.

Is it possible to take time out of our busy schedules and put away things that need our attention? What does it really mean to put God first?

Furthermore, how can someone give God priority in their life? And what are the benefits of letting God take control of our lives?

In this article, we break down this subject and attempt to answer the questions above.

Let’s get to it:

What it means to Put God First in Your Life.

Matthew 6:33 talks about seeking God’s kingdom first and the benefits that follow this instruction.

Firstly, God can’t ask us to do something that is beyond our capacity. So if He told us to do it, that means we can.

Secondly, all these things that other people are chasing after are added to us if we put God first.

What an amazing reality this is. To put God first means giving Him top priority in our lives and letting him take charge. It means having a personal relationship and fellowship with the creator.

The first of the ten commandments states: You shall have no other gods before me. Yet, the truth is so many things take the place of God in our lives.

Most people, including believers, are busy chasing after money, attention, and influence instead of God.

Why is that?

It is because most of us believe “other gods’ are only graven images. But that is not the case.

As long as you put anything or anyone before God, then that thing or person is a god.

So it is safe to say that any kind of distraction can be a god.

Putting God First In Your Life
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

How to Put God First in Your Life

For you to put God first in your life, you need to be intentional about it. It is not something that you will do once in a while. It needs to be a daily habit.

Look, by putting God in his rightful place, we will be able to live life more abundantly. In Genesis 17:1, God told Abraham to walk before Him faithfully.

In the Amplified Version, it says walk habitually. Meaning God was asking Abraham to be intentional about his relationship with God. It needed to be a daily thing.

So what are some of the things that we can do habitually to ensure we put God first?

  • We need to Check out Hearts Frequently

Anything that we focus on excessively can be a distraction.

Even our own feelings and wisdom. When you allow your emotions to take control instead of God, then you’re worshipping your feelings.

It is good to check your heart frequently. This will help you know whether you are bowing to your feelings or God.

But how do you do it?

Ask the Holy Spirit to bring any feeling or distraction that is taking the place of God to your attention.

Ask Him to help you deal with it and then choose to focus on God.

  • Dedicate our lives to serving him.

Get involved in different church activities. This will help you to focus more on the things of God.

Look at the various departments in your church and then settle for one that suits your spiritual gift or ministry.

You don’t have to engage in many church activities as you start. Ask God for direction.

  • Spend time in prayer and His word every day.

Knowing that it’s for our benefit, we can discipline ourselves to take some time to fellowship with him.

This time of fellowship allows us to receive inspiration and the guidance we need in our lives.

It will also enable you to enjoy other benefits of having God in your life.

For example, you will become content in life even if you have little compared to others.

Set aside time to get closer to God. This can be early in the morning when you wake up or during the night before you sleep.

  • Giving God first priority also means consulting with him before making big life decisions.

Ever rushed to make a decision then regretted it later? You knew something was not right as you hurried to close that deal.

You felt impressed in your heart to wait, but you went ahead and signed the papers because the deal looked great on paper. 

Putting God first is not just about prayer and reading the word. We need to involve God in every area of our lives.

This includes the decision-making process. Consult God before making any decision about your family, finances, and investments.

Also Related: 7 Reasons Why God Allows Trials In Our Lives

Benefits of Putting God First.

• When we put God first in our lives, we accept his direction.

God has a plan for our lives, and it’s a great plan (Jeremiah 29:11). When we give God priority, he directs us on the right path that we should take.

If we refuse to let him take charge, we risk missing our paths and finding ourselves in unnecessary trouble.

However, if we accept God’s guidance, we find ourselves making the right moves in our career, our family, and life in general.

Maybe you’re a people pleaser. You’re always looking to other people for approval instead of God.

Well, you can change that by allowing God to take charge of every area of your life. Turn to God in prayer and ask Him to help you depend on Him alone.

Ask Him to help you stop looking for validation from others.

• We experience joy and happiness when we make God a priority in our lives.

According to renowned gospel minister Joyce Meyer in an article on her website, everyday answers with Joyce Meyers, title Putting God First in Your Priorities says, “your joy will increase when you put God first in your life”.

Many people have the desire to find joy and happiness; seeking God’s guidance is a good start.

You experience joy because you know that no matter the situation, it will all turn out for your good (Romans 8:28).

Now, there will be times when you will mess up. You shouldn’t beat yourself up when this happens.

Repent, ask God for help in such times and then continue walking in the joy of the Lord. Learn to take one step at a time.

• There is a purpose to each of our lives and a reason for our being here in the first place.

Only a creator can know the fullest potentials of his creation. God knows our potentials and what we can achieve should we fulfill those potentials.

Putting God first in our lives helps us utilize those potentials, thus fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives (Ephesians 2:10 AMP).

Fulfilling our purpose brings about unequaled joy in our lives.

• Giving God the first priority enables us to experience peace in our lives.

Knowing that our lives are directed by God gives us comfort and peace and saves us from unnecessary worry.

God is a caring God, and he doesn’t want us to worry about anything (1 Peter 5:7).

Many people find themselves in a state of perpetual worry. They worry about their future, money, jobs, family, and much more.

Putting God first releases you from the burden of constant worry because you know he is in charge of everything concerning your life.

• Giving first priority to things of God is a fulfillment of His commandment of walking in love.

When we spend time in fellowship with God, we develop his desires in us through his word and prayer.

God desires us to walk in love in this world no matter the circumstances.

God
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

• Putting God first is also a solid foundation for building a healthy spiritual life.

God wants us to be spiritually minded (Romans 8:6). We are not mere flesh and blood but also spiritual beings just like God is.

Having a strong spiritual life means that we are no longer slaves of sin and are no longer shackled by the desires of the flesh.

Also Related: 8 Proven Ways To Increase Your Faith In God

• Seeking God’s kingdom before anything else enables God to be our sole provider.

We no longer feel limited to our resources and ability. We no longer need to chase the things of this world. When we put God first, we discover that he is willing to provide for us (Psalms 37:4).

We also discover that his strength and ability are available for us whenever we need them. We no longer rely on our ability or our resources to achieve our desired goals.

  • God makes our Paths Straight

So many things happen to us as we grow up. We go through different challenges that cause most of us to stray from the purposes of God.

Making God a priority in your life causes Him to make our paths straight.

If you have strayed and you want to get back on track, then consider putting Him first.

Following your own path will only lead you to destruction. But when you purpose in your heart to follow Him, God makes even the crooked places straight. 

  • Putting God first Leads to Deliverance

God will never abandon those who put him first. In fact, those who look to Him become radiant.

Whether you need deliverance from fear, shame, addictions, or attacks from the enemy, God is ready to deliver you.

But you need to put God first in your life because He doesn’t share his glory with another.  Cry to Him when you are in trouble, and He will rescue you and fight all your battles. 

  • God Gives Discernment to those who Put Him First

Do you ever find yourself struggling to figure out whether something is from God or not? Well, you’re not alone.

Some things look good, but they are not the best things for us. Some things may come off as cheap. And not so appealing to the eye, but they may actually be from the Lord.

When we put God first, we hear his voice clearly and can discern right from wrong. We can also know whether something is from God or not when we remain in tune with Him.

• Finally, giving our maker the first priority in our lives enables us to serve him the right way by being a blessing to others.

You cannot give what you don’t have. When serving God makes you joyful, you can make others joyful as well.

If it gives you peace, you are able to bring peace to other people’s lives too. When God has blessed you, you can be a blessing to others.

Top Bible verses for Putting God First.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Proverbs 16:3

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”.

Proverbs 3:6

“In all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”.

Matthew 22:37

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing”.

Conclusion

Putting God first in your life is imperative. Other than salvation, there are very many benefits that arise from having a personal relationship with your maker.

But it requires a disciple for us to set aside our busy schedule to spend time with God. Knowing that God has an excellent plan for our lives is comforting.

Yet, the only way to discover God’s plan for your life is by spending time with him. Letting God direct your steps is the best way to experience his goodness and the only way to find true fulfillment.

God is willing to lead you on this incredible journey that is your life.

1 thought on “8 Proven Benefits Of Putting God First In Your Life”

  1. Not putting God in ourselves is like not having oxygen ..even oxygen can’t explain it ….all in our we need to put him all in everything ..many are times I felt difted away from him but he kept drewing me close to him …

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