Putting God First: A Blueprint for Spiritual Growth

As we embark on a new year, there's a palpable sense of optimism and fresh starts in the air. It's a time when many of us reflect on the past and look forward to new beginnings. But amidst our resolutions and plans, there's a crucial question we should ask ourselves: How was last year for us spiritually?
This question isn't meant to induce guilt, but rather to prompt honest reflection. When we examine our spiritual lives, many of us might find ourselves falling into one of three categories:

1. Spiritually Apathetic: Perhaps we didn't give God much thought last year. Life happened, and our spiritual life took a backseat.
2. Spiritually Inconsistent: We had moments of seeking God earnestly, but also periods where our faith was flat or neglected.
3. Spiritually Consumed: We consistently prioritized God, making His Word and prayer a daily focus, and living with a sense of divine purpose.

Regardless of where we find ourselves, there's good news. This year can be different. In fact, there's a promise worth considering: If we put God first in four key areas, we can have the best spiritual year of our lives.
Let's explore these four areas:

1. First of the Day: Seek God

Starting our day with God sets the tone for everything that follows. It's not about legalism or rigid routines, but about aligning our hearts with God's will from the outset. This could involve prayer, reading Scripture, or simply sitting in God's presence.
King David exemplified this in Psalm 63:1, saying, "O God, you are my God; early will I seek you." Even Jesus, as recorded in Mark 1:35, would rise "very early in the morning, while it was still dark" to pray.
Practical tip: Use a Bible app with reading plans to help structure your time. If you miss a day, don't be discouraged – simply pick up where you left off.

2. First of the Week: Worship

Corporate worship is a vital aspect of our spiritual growth. The early church, as described in Acts 27, gathered on the first day of the week to break bread, study Scripture, and pray together.
In our busy lives, it's easy to let church attendance slip. But there's something powerful that happens when God's people come together. It's not just about fulfilling a duty; it's about positioning ourselves to hear from God and encourage one another.
Hebrews 10:25 urges us, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another."

3. First of the Month: Tithe

Tithing is often a contentious topic, but it's fundamentally about recognizing God as our provider and putting Him first in our finances. Leviticus 27:30 states, "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."
Jesus himself affirmed the practice of tithing in Matthew 23:23, while emphasizing that it shouldn't overshadow weightier matters of the law like justice, mercy, and faith.
Tithing isn't about settling accounts with God; it's a spiritual act of worship and trust. It's declaring that God is our ultimate source and provider.

4. First of the Year: Fast

Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that appears throughout Scripture. It involves denying ourselves physically to focus on seeking God spiritually. Jesus didn't say "if you fast," but "when you fast" (Matthew 6:17-18), suggesting it was an expected practice for His followers.
A fast could be for one day, three days, a week, or even longer. It's not about impressing others or earning God's favor, but about creating space to hear from God and align our hearts with His.
Joel 1:14 encourages us to "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly." Fasting as a community can be particularly powerful, unifying us in seeking God's will and direction.
Putting It All Together
Imagine the impact on our lives if we consistently put God first in these four areas. Our days would begin with divine perspective. Our weeks would be anchored in corporate worship. Our finances would reflect our trust in God's provision. And our year would start with a focused time of seeking God's face.
This isn't about perfection or earning God's love. It's about positioning ourselves to experience more of God's presence and power in our lives. It's about saying, "God, I want you to be first in every area of my life."
As we consider these practices, it's natural to feel some resistance. Often, the area we resist the most is precisely where God wants to work in our lives. But here's the truth: if we want something we've never had, we've got to do something we've never done.
For some, this might mean committing to daily Bible reading for the first time. For others, it could involve tithing consistently or participating in a fast. Whatever it is, know that God is inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him.
Remember, God doesn't want to be just another item on our priority list. He sent His Son, Jesus, not to make us religious, but to give us life in all its fullness. When we put God first, everything else falls into place.
As we step into this new year, let's challenge ourselves to seek God first in our days, our weeks, our finances, and our spiritual practices. It won't always be easy, but the promise is clear: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).
May this be the year we look back on and say, "I've never known God like this before. I've never sensed His presence, seen His provision, or experienced His power like I did this year." And when asked why, may our answer be simple yet profound: "Because I put first things first."