Putting God First
Putting God First
"Being a Mindful Christian Woman"
by Trina Newby
Every Christian woman wants to feel a sense of happiness and satisfaction. No one wants to wake up day after day feeling “blue” and yet, many Christian women experience feelings of anxiety, stress and discontentment. What causes these feelings? Why are so many Christian women experiencing high-levels of stress? Could it be that all of the things we think we must do and be apart of are causing us to feel overwhelmed? While I may not have all of the answers to these questions, I do know that a large part of the solution is learning to put God first.
For Christian women, putting God first isn’t a big secret. After all, we are Christians. However, we can all get caught up in daily routines and activities that leave the door open for Satan to use us in ways that we think are positive and productive. For example, it’s a positive thing to want to be in business and contribute towards a financial goal that you might be trying to achieve. However, if that business requires you to work on a Sunday and forego worship service all the time - it might contribute to you putting God second.
Another example is if you wake up hurried every day and find your day being very hectic and stressful continuously, you might find that you’ll go days without realizing you didn’t pray or take time to praise God. Now, you might feel that you are a hard working woman and that you are helping to take care of yourself and/or family – that’s a good thing. However, this can cause a distance between you and God if you don’t take the time to give Him the first fruits of your day by praising and praying to Him before your day is started.
Putting God first is about incorporating God in every aspect of your life (and business) on a day-to-day basis. It’s about being mindful and thankful to the one who created you. It’s about following His guidance and council before making all decisions and choices. This requires faith, prayer, commitment, focus and time management. These are five important skills that contribute to successful Christian living.
As Christian women we must remember that our happiness and joy comes from putting God first! When we feel overwhelmed and need to take a break from the “hustle and bustle” of the day, let it be a reminder that we must place God in priority and go to Him in prayer, because He has the answers!
Below are scriptures under each of the five needed skills that give us courage, strength and the understanding to be mindful and put God first in all that we do! Take time to review each scripture and reflect on its meaning for your life.
Faith - Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (NKJV)
Prayer - Colossians 4:2
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” (NKJV)
Commitment - Mark 16:16
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (NKJV)
Focus – Philippians 3:14
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Time Management – Ephesians 5:15-16
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (NKJV)
