Seek First

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Matthew 6:33. This verse has been flooding my soul and captivating my heart for years now. It is one of those scriptures that constantly and abundantly quench the heart and calm the mind. There are times when I find myself clenching to it for the balance and peace it provides.
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1. When I Want To Be Better
It happens to the best of us. Some days, I start to fret. I feel restless. I get overwhelmed by the desire to live out my God given purpose. I worry that if I forget something, just one tiny detail, I'll somehow miss out on my fate. This verse reminds me that I don't have to wonder if I'm doing all of the right things to receive what God has planned for me. I don't have to run myself weary striving and trying to be better or to do more. All I have to do is Go After God with all of me.

2. When I Don't Know What To Do
Part of what makes this scripture so satisfying is in its ability to SIMPLIFY life. When I feel confused and I don't know what the next step is, or I'm not sure what to do, I can read this verse and my next steps are quite literally simplified into SEEKING GOD, because everything else will follow.

3. When I Need Something
I am a blessed person living in a privileged time and culture. I admit that I hardly know what it means to truly be in NEED. However, anytime I FEEL like I need something, or I really really want something, or I worry that I might not have something I'll need eventually, this verse surfaces in my mind and I am flushed with a sense of peace. I know that God will provide. He always does.

4. When I Worry
I am instinctively an anxious person! Sure, it probably has something to do with all of the caffeine I consume, and I often appear to be as calm and cool as a cucumber! Internally, though, I often battle with anxious, worrisome, troubling thoughts: what ifs and worst case scenarios. This bit of scripture dissolves those troubling thoughts. I am reminded that as long as I am pursuing God and seeking to live obedient to Him, I have no need to worry. I have no reason to fret.

"See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:28-34