Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
First let’s join the Hillsong kids in declaring, confessing and proclaiming our course of action for every moment of every day as we praise Him together:
Everyday You’ll Be My Number One
Let those words sink in for a moment. When we think about it He is:
Elohim the one triune God, Creator Gen 1:1; Jer 32:27; Isa 54:5; Psalm 68:7
ABBA (Aramaic) Our Father- Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6
El Shaddai God Almighty. All Sufficient-Gen 17:1, 25:11; Ex 6:30; Psalm 91:2; Rev 1:8
El Elyon The Most High- Gen 14:19, 20: Dan 7:18; Psalm 9:2
EL Olam The Everlasting God, God of Eternity, Omnipresence Gen 3:22, 9:16. 21:33; Ps 10:16; Isa 45:17
EL Roi The God who sees Gen16:13; Psalm 139:7-12
Jawhew & Jehovah To exist, to be Gen 4:3; Ex 6:3
Jehovah Rapha The Lord who heals Ex 15:26
Jehovah Jireh The Lord will provide Gen 22:14
Jehovah Ro’i The Lord my shepherd Gen 48:15; 49:24; Ps 23:1; 80:1
Jehovah Nissi The Lord my banner Ex 17:15-16
Jehovah Shalom The Lord is peace Jude 6:24
Jehovah Shammah The Lord is here Jude 6:24
Jehovah Sabbaoth The Lord of hosts (commander of heavens armies) Isa 1:24; Mal 3:1; 1 Sam 1:3; 17:45
Jehovah M’Kaddesh The Lord our sanctifier Ex 31:13
Jehovah Tsidkenu The Lord our righteousness Jer 23:5-6
Adonai:
Plural Majesty
Singular Master or Owner Jude 5:3; Isa 17:6; 40:1; ! Sam 1:15; Ex 21:1-6
Qanna jealous, zealous or envy. He is jealous in that He wants all our praise to Himself and no one else. He is depicted as Israel’s husband, hence Him being felt cheated on by Israel in the book of Hosea (Ch 1:1-6) Ex 34:14
Theos Greek translation of God in NT
God is the only true God Rom 3:30
He is unique John 17:3
Transcendent (Supernatural) Heb 3:4
Saviour John 3:16
The name is used of Christ as God John 1:1
Kurious:
Greek: Lord (authority and supremacy)
OT: Yahweh
Used as Jesus Christ meaning Rabbi Matt 8:6, God or Deity John 20:28
Despotes:
Greek Master, Lord, denoting the omnipotence of God
Despot: Absolute Ruler Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; 1 Peter 2:1
Father Through the NT faith in Christ God becomes our personal Father
In OT only 15 times while in NT 245 times for God Matt 7:11; James 1:17; Heb 12:5-11; Eph 2:18; 1 Thess 3:11.
What does it mean to put God first?
This is a very serious question. Think about it. The main thing that will evidently show how serious you (generically speaking) are about your devotion to Him is planning and execution. Therefore some things will need to be considered and I am also considering these:
1) Deciding which time of day will be set aside for either prayer, worship or Bible reading
2) Deciding how much more time will be spent on prayer, worship or Bible reading
3) Looking into possible obstacles that occur if two or more people do it such as, holiday travels, school exams or schools opening, long work hours, event planning and so on. Either planning a way to get around these or fit devotions into these will help tremendously.
4) Choosing to do something different which requires a written down and signing a document of what that will be. The same thing will need to be done if it is a list of things, after which, a copy kept with you always and a copy for someone you are close or trust to hold you accountable, will keep you on track.
5) Choosing when to fast. If you are currently doing so or are about to, it’s a good idea to get more info on the kind of fast you are doing or fasting in general in this amazing post by Nyasha (Sherline) called Fasting with a Purpose- Hit the Target pt 1. You should also move on to part 2 when you are done..
6) Deciding to pray the names of God and the Word of God
At the end of the day however you decide to put God first, as long as you mean it and don’t take it lightly. I feel so bad about only worshipping a few times during my three-month term in film school. I have decided and resolved to change that and make sure that my day truly starts with God. Obviously that would mean stopping whatever I’ll be doing if I’m working late in the night and begin devotions at least from midnight then continue afterward.
It’s easier done than said
I believe our words not only are our strongest wind to our sail but also our biggest downfall. We talk ourselves into and out of things. We convince ourselves that something cannot be done before we even begin! We see the challenge as insurmountable without taking it on. Giving up without starting. Even the slowest racer has the determination, strength, courage and boldness to commence the race despite knowing they might lose. In this year I am willing to look at things the other way round. Time with God is easier done than said.
I am encouraged by a lot of bloggers here on WP that actually pray before they write and publish their post. I admit I never used to do that but I have recently been into the habit of doing it. A great way to put God first! I believe praying before cooking, shopping, driving (especially in traffic), working (in any field), having meetings, studying, sleeping, traveling by road, air and both through and overseas, writing, reading even watching certain programs, news channels T.V shows and movies and playing video, T.V, portable, computer and arcade games, will be a great way to discern the appropriateness and mental, emotional and spiritual safety of the activity. Just a short prayer before you start gets God involved in your whole day.
The meaning of the number 13
Contrary to popular belief the number 13 is not such a bad number as the devil has led us to believe. Just because there are programs like 13 Ghosts and a strange observance of Friday 13th, does not make it a bad number. True, it definitely has significance in the kingdom of darkness but it has a greater significance in the kingdom of God. Here are some amazing things I learned about the number 13 from an article by Stephen Gola:
Recapping the story of Abraham, we all know how God came to Abraham and said that he would make him the “father of many nations” as well as becoming the “father of our faith.” God promised Abraham that he was to have a child, and from that child’s linage would come kings and rulers of “many nations” as well as the Messiah—“the Seed to come.” (See Geneses 16-17.)
Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless and in old age at the time God gave them the Promise. Through their many years of frustration of being childless, they tried to help things along by having a child through Sarah’s slave girl, Hagar. Through this act, their son Ishmael was born.
Years later God came again to Abraham and made the same Promise of Blessing. God iterated that the promised son to be born would be from his own wife. Nine months later, Isaac was born.
Here is the key: Understanding what went on in the relationship between Abraham and God gives us the insight into the number “13.” How and when God gave Abraham the Promise, Abraham’s and Sarah’s struggle, the time involved in receiving the manifestation of the Promise. These are all wrapped-up in the number “13”. Therefore keep the entire Scripture story in mind as we proceed.
In Genesis 16:15-17 it reveals that when “Hagar bore Ishmael, Abraham was 86 years old.” Then “when Abraham was 99 years old the Lord appeared to him” and iterated the Promise again—that He will give Abraham a son by his wife. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her. (See Genesis 17:1-22.)
* At 99 years old, God’s Promise came.
* At -86 years old, Abraham tried to bring about Gods Promise.
13 years between the Promise given and the Promise manifested.
Therefore, 99 minus 86 equals 13.
This is “The Number 13 Promise”.
The Number 13 Promise is a “two-fold” promise. It always involves man and it always involves God. It always has seasons, times and circumstances in which God and man participate.
The number “13” does not mean “evil,” but rather it is a most powerful God-given promise that will change the world for ever. Some of the aspects of the promise are:
1. The promise is always initiated by God and destined to change the world forever.
2. Concerning man, to obtain the promise is beyond hope—impossible!
3. Concerning God, the chosen opportunity to manifest His plan of blessing and change.
4. The number 13 promise always has an underlying knowing that man can’t make it happen himself.
5. The number 13 always has the underlying fact that God determined it, said it, and it would happen regardless of the circumstances.
6. The number 13 is the difference of what man can do and what God can do.
7. The number 13 is the number of (new) life.
8. The number 13 promise always has time and space between when it was first given and when its given to manifest.
9. The number 13 promise always has a season in which man tries to bring to past himself what God has promised him.
10. The number 13 promise also has the season in which God brings to pass His promise regardless of what man has tried to produce on his own.
11. The number 13 promise has such a blessing on it that it will even bring to pass what man produces from him trying to bring to pass what God has promised in his own strength. This can also have dire consequences like the situation with Ishmael and the Middle East problem today.
12. The number 13 promise always brings excitement, hope and desperation for the promise to be fulfilled.
13. The number 13 promise is always presented in the presence of unfavorable circumstances, though in time, the circumstances will give way to the birth of the promise.
Conclusion
Whatever way you plan on making God first in your life and your family, friend’s and spouse or partner’s life too, discipline through dedication and devotion are going to be of utmost and enormous importance. What greater feeling and experience is there than having the privilege and honour of spending time with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who can not only give us favor, blessing and promise but, to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].” Eph 3:20.
Writersfield 
[…] few days ago I had written about the year 2013 being the year for putting God first. I had mentioned some of the positive attributes of the number 13. More will be introduced here. […]
LikeLike