To blog
or not to blog…that is the question. Sometimes I would like that I have
something good to say, but then I realize that sounds pretty vain. But I as was
reading some of my other friends’ blogs, my mind started to wander and pretty
soon I was mentally blogging anyways. Usually I like to write my thoughts out
in the forms of prayers, but there are times were my mind is working faster
than my pen can keep up with. This will in no way replace that form of pouring
out my heart to the Lord, but rather compliment it.
I have
been thinking lately about making God number one in our lives versus making Him
the center of our lives. Growing up it was always, “Is Jesus #1 in your life?”
whether it was from youth camps or just church in general. Then I hit a point
in high school where my leaders started preaching about how Christ didn’t need
to be #1 in our lives…He needed to be the center.
Ok, yeah, that resonated with me. If Jesus is in the center, then everything
should flow out from that, be focused around that.
But I
think our culture has taken that for granted and somewhat twisted it. Whether
you put Him at the top of your list or in the center of your priorities,
everything should start with Him. Everything should flow down from that. Here
is my point of view on both situations.
Top
of the list-it seems as if people say, “Yeah, God is first, then my family,
school, friends, etc.,” but more times than not, everything gets
compartmentalized. Sure, you have time for Jesus at the beginning of your day
or week, but then you move on to other things. There should be a constant
overlap, but there simply isn’t. There is absolutely nothing wrong with claiming
God as #1 on our list. In fact, that is what He calls us to do in Matthew 6:33-“But
seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you” (ESV).
Center
of your life-this should imply that revolves around God and His sovereign will.
In selfishness, we make our plans and then take them to God to see if they get
approved instead of starting with God and working out. I’ve just been observing
people (and myself!), and too often we fit God into our plans instead of us jumping on board with His plans.
I don’t
have some fancy solution and 10-step process that we can follow to fix this.
But I’m challenging myself to start with God. And if I say He is #1 on my list or the center of my life, I
will not let it be another Christian cliché. I pray that He would transform my
life to where that would be my natural response in any and everything-seeking
first His kingdom.
