True Love? Seek God First

Seeking God first is what we should do before we do anything else. However, it is difficult when we invest so heavily in what we perceive to be the best idea or plan. This talk discusses why we should pursue God above all else and how fruitful we become when we do.

Transcript

Hello everyone and welcome to today's consideration.

Today's consideration is based on the book of Matthew chapter 6.

So this week I've been thinking about the concept of love.

Specifically,

I've been thinking about all the foolish things we do and say in our pursuit of love.

The reality is that we are seeking so many other things but we keep calling it love.

We shine ourselves up and present ourselves to the public with our life's resume on display waiting to be showered with admiration and awe and we feel loved.

Or we publicly debase ourselves,

Demonstrating our ability to bravely soldier on despite the hardships that we're happy to outline.

We take those reassuring pats on the back and we bask in being labeled as noble and strong and we feel loved.

This isn't love,

This is reward.

Reward for a set of behaviors that,

By the world's standards,

Are worth noting.

But as with any reward,

The attention and importance are short-lived and we're left craving again.

And we seek it because the world does not teach us to do any better.

But God teaches us a different way,

Something so simple that it's rather controversial.

Seek that love in secret.

Now I don't mean the perverted version of secret that involves a back alley and a trench coat.

I mean secret as in not in public.

And where is the most secret place?

Our hearts.

Right where God is waiting for us.

God has and is the very essence of pure love.

So to follow the logic,

If the best way to seek love is to seek in secret and God is located in that secret place,

Then it adds up that we are to seek Him first.

We are to seek God first because He is the original source.

It's the original source that's the purest.

Everything else is a bad knockoff that's being sold at a discount price at a local flea market.

We are to seek God first because He already possesses everything we need.

If you knew your favorite flavor of crackers was at a certain grocery store on a certain street,

Why would you waste your time going to any other store?

We seek God first because He gives us the clear path to receiving that love.

Forgiveness,

Asking forgiveness for our shortcomings that we used to block our path to Him and celebrating the forgiveness we receive by forgiving those whose shortcomings have affected us.

We seek God first because He knows where we need to be led.

He is the creator of our path and we must trust that He will not lead us into temptation nor evil.

So big hint,

If you find yourself in a place of temptation or evil,

God didn't take you there so get off that path.

We seek God first for stability.

Everything else in our lives is unstable and subject to change,

Whereas God is steadfast and constant.

That means we should not look onto the world or even each other in permanent judgment.

Standards change,

Values change,

People change.

For better or worse,

Everything changes and we have no way of predicting it or preventing it,

So look to God for the consistency.

We seek God first because He gets us.

He knows we have a desire for our hearts to be filled and for direction in our lives and He knows that in our desire or desperation that we will respond to anything that promises that fulfillment and direction.

So we are to treasure God with our hearts and let our eyes be filled with His light such that He fills our being as well.

We seek God first and only because a person can't walk two paths.

We can only walk the path that we trust.

When we veer away from God,

We're saying that we no longer trust His path,

But of course we realize at some point that the path we picked isn't so trustworthy either.

And then it's back to God we go.

The beautiful thing about seeking God is that we find Him and in Him we have everything we need.

We can trust Him,

Be led by Him,

And be loved by Him.

And by going to Him first,

We get everything we ever sought and we get it in perfection.

So why do we dodge this?

Why do we try to get whatever we're pursuing every other way but God's way?

Seeking God first is difficult because it causes us to put aside the desire within which we have invested emotion,

Thought,

Time,

And even resources.

The unspoken fear is that if we pursue God,

Then we will have to give up that desire as we currently understand it.

Though we may,

Through intellect and experience,

Understand that pursuing God first has always worked in our favor,

It is extremely difficult to see beyond our desires and our fantasized outcome.

The good news is that we can go to God just as we are,

Stubborn,

Questioning,

And uncertain.

Bringing our desires to Him and tremulously putting them in His care.

We hope He doesn't change anything.

We hope we can have it exactly the way we want it.

The even better news?

He is going to change it and He's going to change you so that in the process of trusting God,

You will become clear enough to receive the upgraded version of what you desire with gratitude and grace.

So ask yourself,

What's keeping me from seeking God first?

What am I holding away from God's influence because I want it the way I want it?

Go to God with it.

All you have to say is,

Hey God,

It's me.

Can we talk?

Thank you for listening.

Reviews

Such a beautiful consideration. I give thanks for God’s guidance to this revelation of truth today. It brought me to a place of seeking forgiveness from God, in simple and frank words, for the ways in which I’ve sought love and not trusting His ways. I am so thankful for His forgiveness, His patience and the perfect love only He can give. And thank you my sister, for being an instrument of God reacting out to me, through this meditation. Be blessed always 🌻🤗💜

As with all your pieces this one is well conceived and composed, but it stops before we get to the end. I would love to hear how you bring this to a close. Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and guidance. Namasté

Thanks a lot, beautiful. It can be a difficult road to reach God when one is brought up with the fear of God in the Catholic faith. 🙏

Inspiring way to look at the world's way and lift our eyes up to God for New Perspective and direction. Thank you for your Insight

Thank you again for the reminder of God's place in our lives😁

Awesome! Loved it!

She made some really good points

Great! 🙏🏼 A little disappointed about the abrupt ending

Thank you for that insight

This one hit me right between the eyes. Thank you.

Thank you so much. I absolutely enjoyed this time with you!!

I love this❣ This realization has changed my life!

It is a good day when I see one of Jamila's meditations on IT. Always challenging, and grounded in God's love. Thank you! ❤

This aligned perfectly w/my devotional. God wants us to always go to him first as he is our true love. This abruptly cut off at end but is still great meditation. 🙏🏼🌈🙏🏼

Love this! Sometimes we forget to put God first and get so wrapped up in our lives, but this is a great reminder to do just that! Thank you!

Thank you so much for this! 🌷🌷🌷

Lovely and uplifting reminder! Thank you so much for sharing. 😊💛🙏 xxx