God Story-Why Putting God First Is The Right Thing To Do To Enjoy Success In Life- Ngozi Nwoke
Have you ever worked so hard and it amounted to little or nothing? Or have you expected everything to go well only to see the very opposite happen? It may be because you didn't put God first. For you to enjoy success in life, one wise and right thing to do is putting God first in all you do in life.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you – Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die – 2 Kings 1:16 (KJV)
Many people now don't have regards for God, not to talk of putting God first for them to enjoy success in life. They consider Him as one of those religious things talked about in the past and not relevant now or in the future. Some even, over time, have convinced themselves that there is no God and are proclaiming it. But they will NEVER change the fact that God remains God, the creator of the whole universe and architect of everyone's life. God does not change; He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.
Put God first at all times and your life will change tremendously for good. Indeed it is a wise and right thing to do. Putting God first provokes God to show forth His glory in your life. He would manifest His awesome wisdom and power for you when you consider Him first before any other thing. God will not share His glory with anybody or thing, therefore considering Him as a second thought does not move Him to act on your behalf.
You may say that you have done pretty well without putting God first but the truth is that if you had done so, you would have enjoyed more success in life. There is a limit to what YOU can do. Inviting your maker in all your decision makings is a wise thing to do and it makes all the difference. He knows the future from the very beginning and sees all the other paths you can't see, therefore He is in a better position to advice you.
I heard a God story of a pastor who had a challenge with his throat and had arranged to operate on it when God spoke to him about putting him first. He didn't ask God to heal him before consulting a doctor until the morning of the scheduled operation. While reading the story of a king who did not put God first concerning his healing, during his family devotion, God pointed out to him that he had done the same. And so repenting, he and his family asked God to heal him and instantly God healed him.
Now, I am not saying that consulting doctors is wrong but it should be a second thought. It is a wise and right thing to do if you have not built your faith enough to receive your healing from God without the help of doctors. God will meet you wherever your faith can carry you but put God first. In any case, there is no way you can build your faith without exercising it.
Also, I heard a God story of a man who never lost money in any business deals because he always consulted God before sealing any deal, even when the deals sounded very genuine and promising. He would wait until he was certain of God's direction before giving an answer to the proposer of the business deals. Sometimes, God directed him to sign for deals that didn't look promising, that other people didn't support. At the end, he always profited tremendously from them. Therefore, no matter your field of profession, putting God first is a wise and right thing to do to enjoy success in life.
You may say that these are stories I only heard. I also have God story why you should put God first at all times. I will give three accounts of my steps with God based on my academics.
One time in secondary school days, I was torn between attending a Christian fellowship gathering or preparing for the test I was to have the following day. Finally I decided not to go and read. When I got to school the next day, the teacher cancelled the test. So next time I had the same challenge, I decided to attend the fellowship gathering as that was the right thing to do. When I came back, God gave me the strength to study and prepare beyond what I normally would have done. The next day, the test held and I did very well.
My problem was not attending fellowship gathering but time management. Two to three hours out of twenty-four hours, twice or thrice a week for God will not make anybody fail an exam. Putting God first will make the rest of the hours more productive. Also, you provoke God to release divine understanding to you and to crown your effort with excellence.
Another God story I have, was when I was to choose what to study in the university. I had no particular purpose in life. I wasn't even ambitious. I only wanted to be a university graduate. (Thank God I am different today). Finally I chose two courses, Computer science and Industrial Chemistry based on the subjects I liked most. Now, the problem became what to put as my first choice. So my mother asked a man of God to seek God's direction on this issue for me. (Then I didn't know how to do that for myself)
Humanly speaking the answer, if it were to be in my country, was very obvious. The demand for Computer science was more than Industrial chemistry and so the pass mark for it was going to be higher than that of Industrial chemistry, but my mother chose to put God first. After some days, the man of God told my mother that I should choose Industrial chemistry! My brother saw no sense in it at all but I did what the man of God said. It was the right thing to do. When the results came out I didn't make the pass mark for Computer science but I made the top ten for Industrial chemistry. Putting God first spared me a year out of school and granted me opportunity to start off my success in life.
Third account was during my University days. I had some strange attack of sleeping while reading which I never had before and I didn't do well in my first year exams. So I struggled to make up in my second year. Now in my second year I was nominated to lead my fellowship members in my hostel. I was torn between being committed to my assignment and facing my studies squarely, while fighting to overcome the challenge I was having.
Finally, I choose to put God first and serve during this period. God started teaching me how to overcome the sleeping problem and also how to read and prepare for my exams. During this period I learnt how to listen for God's directions and to obey them. One time, He directed me to focus on solving past question papers and another time He led me to specific areas in my course outline to focus more on. I would enter the exam hall and find those questions or areas I focused on as most of the exam questions.
By my final year I had totally overcome the sleeping challenge. And I completed my first degree as one of the three students in my class who didn't have to re-sit for any final year exams. I served as the hostel leader for my fellowship for two years and God proved Himself faithful in my life. I enjoyed success because I chose to put God first.
I have tested God and have seen that He is true to His words. Seek Him first and every other thing will be added to you including success in life. Putting God first is indeed the right thing to do.
What to learn from this story
· God expects you to put Him first at all times, no matter how big or small the issue may be.
· It is wisdom to put God first, your career or field of profession notwithstanding.
· Young children are also to practice seeking God first in their lives.
· It will make the rest of your schedule more effective and productive
· Patiently seeking God's direction in prayer concerning any issue is one way to put God first
· Seeking God first sometimes does not make sense.
· It spares you a whole lot of misery and frustration, wasted effort and energy.
· Deep insight and exploits are provoked when you make God your first priority.
· It pays to put God first
· Seek God first and every other thing will be added unto you
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/10-tips-on-how-to-hear-from-god-today-6097257.html About the Author Ngozi Nwoke is a teacher and a counselor. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love and christian living for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? Subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com
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