In the last blog we talked about the meaning of value. We discussed its definitions and how the meanings can apply to putting GOD first.
We defined value as:
(1) the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.
(2) considering (someone or something) to be important or beneficial; have a high opinion of.
We also asked ourselves a bunch of questions to consider whether we value GOD according to these definitions.
If you missed the last blog, stop here! Do yourself a favor and go back and read it. I am a firm believer in connecting the dots in conversations.
Now that we have considered the meaning of value and can gain a firm grip on whether we see GOD as valuable to us individually and in our own lives, let us move on to talk about the benefits of valuing GOD above anything; explicitly stated: the benefit of valuing GOD first. Before I do the Holy Spirt is unctioning me to say something. If you have not valued GOD as much as you should have in your life, it is never too late to change courses; to change how you feel or even how you want to feel and to put an action step toward your desire. It is never too late to take a step in the right direction toward GOD instead of any direction away from him. Stepping intentionally in a direction toward GOD, closer to GOD, is the most valuable step you will ever take. I promise. Forgive your past mistakes and move forward.
So, what are the benefits that accompany ascribing value to the greatest person that exists; GOD himself and responding to that value. What are the blessings, the goodness, the pleasures that follow putting the one who created the universe and all that it contains; in front place. I wish I could grant you an exhaustive list, but in all transparency, I do not believe there is a data storage package that could store all the benefits that come along with an individual deciding to honor and value GOD with their life. GOD is just too supernatural and his greatness so far beyond our finite comprehension that nothing can contain his blessings, his favor, the expansiveness of his love, the hope he offers and the rewards from the sacrifice he has made.
However, excuse me while I try my hardest to highlight just a few things for us to keep at the forefront of our hearts, every time the enemy tries to get us to put GOD on the back burner. Here is a list of valuable benefits of putting GOD first that I compiled from various online sources: GOD gives peace GOD gives wisdom GOD gives provision GOD gives comfort GOD gives guidance Live more joyfully GOD is a solid foundation Live a better life Everything else in life will fit GOD directs our paths Life will stay on track I pray you enjoyed reviewing the list and are as excited as I am reading about these benefits. I got goosebumps reading the list to be honest. Now tell me,
Which ones are your favorite? Which ones resonate with your heart? Which one draws out conviction that can produce change in your life? I cannot comment on all of them in this post but here are the ones that really left an impression on my heart that I would like to talk about a little further. God gives peace I think out of all the benefits listed this one hit home for me the most. It does because I did not always have peace in my life as a child or as a young adult. I endured a lot of turmoil in my life including a dysfunctional family that was exposed to domestic violence and drug abuse, as well as enduring substance abuse and domestic violence in my own relationships as a young woman. I survived being part of a church cult (a spiritually abusive system), living beyond the abandonment of my religious husband and living as a single parent for more than two decades (all this to name only a few tumultuous situations in my life). I did not have peace for an awfully long time but right now I do. That peace did not come by its own power, it came because I accepted that one of the benefits of valuing God more than anything else is that he comes with peace. It’s a whole package deal with God. Look at what these bible scriptures assure us about Gods’ peace:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Whew! That is only a few LOL (there are plenty plenty more where those came from just do a google search and make your heart happy about Gods peace). God is peace, God gives me peace and the only way that I can tap into it, is to surrender and practice. Here’s some scriptures to remind us that PURSUING PEACE is our responsibility:
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days, must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10-11
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14
Good stuff, right? But to be honest, I was terrible at experiencing peace for years because of so easily sacrificing myself for the needs of others. I never knew when to say no; never accepted that I did not have to be everybody's hero and help. I sacrificed more than I should have but at the time I really wanted to, so I do not live in regret. Now I know better and when you know better you should do better. I have learned to practice Gods peace and rest by being intentional with God; by valuing my time alone with myself, by valuing my time alone with God (undistracted), by being intentional to get quiet with him (meditation), to talk to him (prayer) and to worship him (with music and song)
God gives wisdom
This one is important because often our wisdom concerning our own personal lives and the greater world around us is so limited. I like to see everything that happens to me as a small dot on a huge tapestry of LIFE that God has been forming from the beginning of time. When I think of valuing God and the benefit of wisdom that comes along with that, I get goose bumps because Gods wisdom is not as man's wisdom at all, it is very supernatural and beyond what we could ever imagine. I just love this characteristic of GOD. In most scenarios I am just so ignorant and dumb, and always I am craving Gods unique wisdom to help me. I cannot tell you of the countless times Gods’ wisdom has saved me from destruction and disasters of all sorts; How his wisdom helped me navigate the most difficult of circumstances with people when I otherwise would have lost my cool with them. Gods' wisdom is special, it sees bigger, wider, deeper, and further into our situations and futures than we could ever imagine. God does not have wisdom he himself is wisdom. We do well to honor and value God because of the wisdom that he is. Here’s what the bible says about Gods wisdom:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
God gives provision
This would not have been amongst my choices to discuss on this post, but as a single mom I figured I had better name it amongst the others because provision for a single mom is both a profound need and blessing from GOD. I know what it means to live in poverty and need but similarly I have experienced Gods consistent provision by way of finances, shifting circumstances that worked in my best interest and offering divine supernatural favor by doing things only GOD could ever be credited as having done. As a single mom for more than 17 years I have a testimony that God has never allowed me to live in lack of the basic things I needed because I put him first. I valued my relationship with him and his desires for my life more than anything else and I did my absolute best to walk in his ways. Now I was not perfect by any means! I made a whole lot of mistakes along the way even suffering a lengthy period of feeling distant from God in one grievous season of sexual immorality. A season that cost me much in the way of financial prosperity because the bible teaches that there is an association between poverty and impurity. Through it all, God saw my heart and longing for purity and righteousness and because of that he did not allow me to fall beyond his willingness to lift me back up. He kept me afloat provisionally and spiritually. God is loving and his grace is sufficient, but I also believe his mercy can be displaced in our lives when we abuse his generosity. Here's some scriptural reassurance that God promises to provide for us:
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Luke 12:24
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
God gives comfort There is nothing like the comfort of GOD. This is one of my number one reasons for honoring and valuing God and deciding to put him first in my life. As humans we can count on suffering to be a part of our experience. Maybe you are like me and have suffered the loss of many people you loved. In my lifetime I lost two spouses (one to homicide) and have endured sufferings of many sorts as a disciple of Christ and a single mom; even my children have lent their hands to some intense suffering in my life. And although I will not minimize or make light of the deep sufferings that both you and I have endured, I am careful not to make light of the comfort that was available to me and remains available to us all from God and from one another. I have been comforted by GOD because God is comfort. Through the presence of his Holy Spirit, he is the God of all comfort who comforts us. Having experienced Gods comfort personally during the death of my spouse when I was 40 weeks (about 9 months) pregnant with our unborn son, I understand Gods comfort to be beyond what we could ever understand in our own minds. During that time of battling the death of my high school sweetheart my mind was like mush and yet Gods comfort was supernatural overriding my weary thoughts, broken heart and providing me with reassurance that I was not alone. Gods’ comforting presence reminded me that he would be there to care for me. He will never leave us or forsake us. God can be our comfort when we choose him first. Here is some scriptures to reassure you that God is a comforter (to you):
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:13
Live more joyfully
I appreciate this valued benefit of putting God first because even though I would rather have talked about the benefit of Gods guidance I cannot escape the beauty of life that this particular benefit brings. I have been saved over twenty years now and the joy that floods my life is a direct result of years of walking with GOD not in perfection but in pursuit. I have pursued after God no matter how difficult my life was, no matter how shattered my spirit, and no matter how unstable my mind was because I know that God is good. I have never taken the stance (by choice) that I needed to be good to get to God. In my opinion, I always needed to get to God to get good. I have always saw God as the only means to my successful end in anything in this life. Now I have joy overflowing through my continued pursuit of the one who has been pursuing me from the beginning of time. This joy that I have the world did not give to me so the world cannot take it away. It is GOD given because I have given myself to GOD first. Meditate on these scriptures about joy and make a commitment to experience a joyful life when you value God in your life first:
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. Psalm 119:111
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
I pray you have enjoyed reading my explanations of these valued benefits of putting God first (along with my added firsthand experiences). I would love to discuss the other areas of value in another post if you guys are not too bored with my conversation yet. If you would like me to expound on the other areas, let me know by leaving a comment on the post and I will gladly share. Please also be so kind as to share your thoughts with me on the areas that you find to be the most valued benefit in your relationship with God. Remember if you come up short and do not feel there is anything valuable going on in your relationship with God it is okay. There is always room to grow relationship with God. Keep following! Until next time Gehmies! As I like to conclude, take time to... Think About these things...
Then Go… Grab your Heels... Click Em (Toward Your Growth) And Give God Some Praise. He’s Worthy! Luhh You Stiletto Strong-Mommy Shar 💋