Keeping the First Things First

Hello Baysiders! Hope the new year is treating you wonderful and you all are keeping up with your New Year goals and resolutions.

I don’t think there is ever a non-busy season of life. Even on vacation busyness can steal away from the rest. 2021 didn’t give us any rest as it seems the issues from 2020 overflowed into this year. The pandemic, election, earthquakes, closed down businesses, unemployment and other struggles has drained us from our focus, keeping us busy yet not really making any significant progress in our lives. It’s so easy to get lost in the business of life. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in yourself. It’s so easy to lose focus on what really matters. It’s so easy to just give up and be negative about life.

The concerns of this life can blur our vision of God. You cannot let the world, the Devil, or yourself to dictate your faith; thats the easy thing to do. We are called to do the hard thing. The hard thing is to choose hope, love, patience, and the beautiful over the ordinary. Let your faith dictate your faith.  Be on top of your circumstance and soar over the issue and find peace and joy in God. Have your eyes on God, keep your mind above, and stay focus on the truth. Putting God first in everything is the means in living peacefully. When God is number one in your life, above anyone or anything else, he adds all that is needed. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God knows your problems, He is aware of your situation, and he will help you with all of them, but you need to pay attention to God and not the busyness and stresses.

What’s distracting you from trusting God? What’s getting in the way of your commitment with Jesus? What’s stealing your peace and joy? Christians can’t let secondary issues distract us from God or let doubtful situations to deplete us of our faith. C.S Lewis once said, “Put first things first and you get second things thrown in; put second things first and you lose both first and second things.” Believers get taken up on practicalities of life and the worries of tomorrow and we push faith aside. Keep God first and he will bring everything into place. Even when it seems like life isn’t going your way, keep trusting in God, do the hard right thing and the fruit will come.

Grace and peace ?:^)

Pastor Aaron