Joy Challenge Video Devotional - Day 25: Pastor Kerry Shook
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“In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”
Proverbs 3:6 (TLB)
Keeping first things first seems to be a recurring theme in Scripture, doesn’t it? When Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness with the promise that all these things, whatever material needs we had would be added to us, He was echoing the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:6 (TLB). “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” Putting God first honors God. In 1 Samuel 2:30 (NLT), God says, “I will honor those who honor Me.” The point is clear. God wants first place in our lives.
How do you know when you are giving God first place? Yesterday we looked at the first two ways we practically demonstrate that God has first place in our lives. Each one reveals the secret to sustaining joy.
First, give God the first part of my day in personal worship through a daily time alone with God. Spend those moments reading the Bible and talking with God in prayer.
Second, give God the first part of my week in corporate worship at church. Connect with other Christ followers in worship and through a life group where you can grow together and encourage one another.
Third, give God the first part of my income. The Bible says, “Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” Proverbs 3:9-10 (TLB) Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” Acts 20:35b (TEV) Givers are joyful people. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV), the Bible says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Are you a cheerful giver? Have you ever noticed that the root word for “miserable” is “miser?” Misers are miserable people. One of the secrets of sustaining joy is giving God the first part of my income and doing it gladly considering how much He has given me.
Fourth, give God first consideration in every decision. To sustain joy in my life, I’ve discovered I experience less stress and more confidence when I defer every decision in my life to God before acting. Remember what Paul said in Philippians 4:6, “Pray about everything!” Giving God the first consideration in every decision honors God and aligns my life to His will rather than falling into the snare of going my own way or going the wrong way. The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV) One of the most deceptive traps of the devil is to convince us we don’t need to pray about this one. Even Joshua fell for that deception in the Old Testament when he made a judgment call by appearance and failed to pray about his decision. A group of men from Gibeon set out to deliberately deceive him and the leaders of Israel when they entered the Promised Land. And the Bible says, “Joshua and the other leaders finally believed them. They did not bother to ask the Lord….” Joshua 9:14 (TLB) We lose our joy when we fail to give God first consideration in every decision and set ourselves up for failure. What decisions are you facing right now that you need to consult with God about first? Take a moment and do that in prayer. Ask God to give you His perspective, to give you wisdom, and help you make the right decision.
If you want sustaining joy in your life begin to practice these four secrets. Give God the first part of your day, the first part of your weekend in worship, the first part of your income, and the first consideration in every decision. You’ll experience what Peter calls “joy unspeakable that is full of glory!” 1 Peter 1:8 (ASV)
Printed copies of The Joy Challenge devotional are available at The Joy Challenge - Kerry Shook Ministries.