Realigned Priorities
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
I had my priorities skewed—even then, I knew it.
I was fifteen years old, and my high school debate teacher asked the class to rank our priorities in order, including everything from God to activities we enjoy. I knew I should put God first, yet I didn’t.
I’m not sure when God became the Lord over all my life, but somewhere my priorities shifted and everything became clear.
Culture is always telling me to put self or family first. It tells me to worry about my needs because no one else is going to, to do what makes me happy, and for years, I listened.
I’m still growing in this area, but now I begin my day with Christ and seek to continually follow His lead. This means reading the Bible and praying when I wake up instead of checking email. This means going to church when I’d much rather sleep in and listening to Christian radio instead of the news as I commute to work.
I’ve also learned to give to God first. I used to think tithing wasn’t really important, but then I discovered tithing isn’t about money—it’s about acknowledging who’s the boss of my life (God!). Everything I own belongs to Him; I’m just the manager.
I’m also learning to follow God’s lead in how I deal with others.
My husband and I own a business, and sometimes, hardships occur. This used to worry us or result in indecision, but now, we seek God’s will and strive to honor Him in all we do. No matter what happens, we trust Him to bring good from what might feel difficult or unexpected.
We approach our relationships with one another and our kids in the same way—seeking God’s heart, aligning ours with His, and resting in His sovereignty. Not only has this helped me retain God as Lord of my life, but it’s resulted in overarching peace, as well.
Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist and a member of the Wholly Loved Ministry team. She’s also an author who currently serves as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. She is the author of More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey (2018) and editor of Stories of Racial Awakening: Narratives on Changed Hearts and Lives of South Carolina United Methodists (2018), both from her newspaper’s Advocate Press. She also writes contemporary women’s fiction, represented by Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ 2018 Genesis Contest. She has a faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com.