Put God First!

29 Apr Put God First!

Read Matthew 4:1-4(NLT)
Thought for the Day: Peace comes from putting God first.

We are most vulnerable to making poor decisions when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and/or Tired (“H.A.L.T.”). If we take a moment and look back at our most difficult moments, many of them occurred when we were dealing with one or more of these four states. This is why college students have a hard time effectively pulling an all-nighter, and it’s difficult for most of us to stick with an ambitious diet. We are the least effective when we encounter the reality of our physical limitations.

Jesus showed us how to stay faithful to God without compromise. This is true even when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. After forty days without food, Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. To say that He was hungry is an understatement. Rather than giving in to temptation, Jesus provided a blueprint that we too can follow: “The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Rather than listening to His rumbling stomach, Jesus allowed God’s Word to lead Him.

At the times we find ourselves struggling, let’s pause and remember the example Jesus provided. We don’t need to compromise and give in to our weakest impulses. Instead, we can pause, pray, and realize that God invites us to trust Him at all times. Whether we are hungry or full, angry or at peace, lonely or in community, tired or energized, we will only find peace when we put Him first in our lives!

In Christ,
Pastors Stan and David