90 Days of Prayer – Day Sixty Eight “Getting Priorities in Order”

90 Days of Prayer – Day Sixty Eight

“Getting Priorities in Order”

 Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Jesus came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and devoted his ministry to that end. The entire redemptive story from Genesis to Revelation is that of God’s Kingdom purposes being lived out on the earth as it is in heaven. Is it any wonder that Jesus would teach his followers to make seeking God’s Kingdom the highest priority in this life?

The word seek in verse 33 is a Greek word meaning “to look for” or “to seek.” It was used many times denoting the ongoing process of philosophical investigation. Jesus uses the word in the “Present Active” which means continual action. This means that Jesus was encouraging a lifestyle of daily pursuing God’s Kingdom and His righteousness as the highest priority of life.

Notice here in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is teaching the lifestyle quality of continually seeking God’s Kingdom first, and says that it will add many things to your life without you asking for them. Earlier in Matthew 5:6 Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Jesus continues throughout this sermon to illustrate this Kingdom “Principle of Priorities” that governs all sowing and reaping.

This Kingdom Principle of Priorities will require you to live your life purposefully. Jesus is laying out a lifestyle of intentionally setting and keeping priorities in order. Ask yourself if all of your activities in life are feeding into your continual pursuit of God’s Kingdom Purpose. One way to find out is to ask yourself if your present personal priorities are adding to you the basic necessities of life without you having to ask for them (Matthew 6:25-34).

Believe it or not much of the prayers that go unanswered and the provisions that seemingly arrive only occasionally have more to do with incorrect priorities than with the actual act of praying. In other words the lack of Kingdom evidence in the lives of many believers has more to do with sowing and reaping than asking and receiving. Having the sowing into wrong priorities produces little or no return.

So examine yourself according to the Sermon on the Mount’s Kingdom “Principle of Priorities.” Ask yourself if you’re continually seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness by the way you are currently living. If you find that you’re not, then begin to change your life’s priorities so they line up with the instructions found in God’s Word.

You will find that having your priorities in order your life’s purpose will begin to become clearer to you. Many of God’s promised provisions will be added to you without you having to ask for them. You will be more productive, be more confident, and see more of God’s hand in you using your gifts to bless others, and you will certainly Be Encouraged.

John S Picarello