Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should seek God's Kingdom first

Seek First: What Has to Move Before Everything Else Falls into Place
A devotional by Heidi Lewis-Ivey

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”—Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

There’s a word most of us skip right past in our anchor text above: first.

We read it in Matthew 6:33 the way we read a stop sign we've driven past a thousand times—technically registering it, not actually stopping. Seek first the kingdom of God? “Sure. Of course,” we may think. Then we go right on seeking whatever we were already seeking, with God added somewhere near the top of the list instead of in first place at the very top.

I've read this verse more times than I can count. But sitting with it again recently, I got stuck on that one word in a way I hadn’t before. Not “seek God” in general. The word first, which means everything else in me has to be willing to move.

The verse was never really about what to add. It's about what needs to be reordered. When we read The Holy Bible, we see that Jesus Christ doesn't hand this verse about first seeking the kingdom of God to His disciples out of nowhere. Prior to the “seek ye first” sermon, Jesus spent several verses talking them down from anxiety. According to Matthew 6:31–32 (NKJV), Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

I want you to notice something here: Jesus doesn't treat worry and misplaced priority as two separate problems. He treats them like the same problem. The anxious questions “What will I eat?” or “What will I wear?” or “Will I be okay?” are really questions about what’s sitting on the throne of a person's heart. Worry is what happens when something other than God has been quietly put in charge of your security. His prescription isn't “worry less.” It's “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV). Not “Manage your anxiety better.” Reorder what you're seeking.

What Was Actually Sitting There

This is where it stopped being theoretical for me. I had to ask myself honestly: What have I been seeking first? Not what I’d say out loud in church. What my calendar says. What my mind drifts to the moment nothing else demands it. What I reach for when I'm anxious.

Jesus had already named the competition a few verses earlier, and I think it’s easy to read past this one too: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20–21, NKJV).

Treasure isn't only money. It's whatever I've quietly organized my life around protecting. And most of us have treasure we've never actually said out loud. Treasures like comfort, approval, control, the appearance of having it together. Seeking the kingdom first was never about adding God to a list that already has a king on it. It's about letting Him remove whoever's currently sitting there, even when what's sitting there feels harmless.

A King Who Actually Did This

While I sat with this passage about seeking God first, I kept coming back to the Bible stories about King Solomon. God gave him about as open an offer as a person can receive ask for anything. He could have asked for wealth, long life or the defeat of his enemies. Instead, King Solomon said, “Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV).

He sought something aligned with what God had actually called him to, not just what would make his own life easier. And Scripture tells us exactly what happened next: God gave him the wisdom he asked for and the wealth and honor he never asked for. Remember: King Solomon didn’t seek riches and hope wisdom would tag along. He sought rightly, and the rest was added.

What Actually Gets Reordered

Here’s what I needed to hear myself: Seeking the kingdom first was never about abandoning the rest of life. Jesus says those things are added, not stripped away. But they need to come second. Paul puts it in slightly different words when he says this in Colossians 3:2 (NKJV), “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

That’s not a call to disengage from work, family, or responsibility. It’s a call to hold all of it with an open hand instead of a closed fist to let God's kingdom be the thing everything else gets organized around, instead of squeezing Him into whatever space is left over after I’ve secured everything else first.

Where I Landed

I walked away from sitting with this passage less concerned with what I needed to add to my life, and much more aware of what needed to move. Seeking God's kingdom first was never about doing more for God. It’s about letting Him take the first place that something else—comfort, control, approval, even things that are good—has been quietly occupying. The Bible says in Psalm 37:4 (NKJV), “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

Reordering costs something in the moment. It always does. But it's the only way the rest of it ever actually falls into place. Think about what needs to be reordered in your life. Write it down. Don’t condemn yourself. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to show you what’s out of order. Ask Jesus, “Lord, what am I still holding on to that You are asking me to place on the altar?”

You don't have to have it all figured out before you come to Him. He’s not waiting for a perfect response, just an honest one. Whatever comes to mind as you sit with that question, don’t push it back down. Bring it right here, right now, and let this be the moment you lay it down. Let’s turn that honesty into prayer.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

I confess that I haven't always sought You first. I've let comfort, control, approval, and a dozen smaller things quietly take the place that belongs to You. Forgive me for the ways I've managed my own life instead of surrendering it for the times worry revealed exactly who, or what, I was really trusting.

I don’t want to just add You to what I’m already seeking. I want You to lead. Take the throne of my life back: my time, my decisions, my fears, the things I hold too tightly. Where I’ve built my own house while Yours sits unattended, forgive me, and give me the courage to trust You to reorder what I’ve let drift.

I trust that as I seek You first, You will take care of the rest, just as You’ve promised. Have Your way in me, Lord. Lead me, Lord, and I’ll follow.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “O Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Withholding Nothing Medley” by William McDowell. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Just Want You” by Travis Greene. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Nobody But Jesus” by Kelly Price (feat. Vanessa Bell Armstrong). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “First” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “First Things First" by Consumed by Fire. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Lead Me Lord” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Heidi Lewis-Ivey is an affirmed prophet and an internationally acclaimed speaker. 

She impacts audiences with her authenticity and bold style of delivery. She has had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad, St. Thomas USVI, Manchester and Liverpool (England).

Heidi is an award-winning and bestselling author. She is the author of Can I Rest Awhile? and Black Girl Cry: What Black Women Need to Know to Amplify Their Voices. She is a co-author in Soulful Prayers (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Soulful Affirmations. Heidi is the convener of the Encountering the Courts of God movement and the founder of Visions International, a training ground for five-fold ministry gifts.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston University. Heidi is the CEO of Nael & Associates Inc and franchise owner of Patrice & Associates recruiting firm. She is a member of the Pentimenti Women Writers Group, a former mentor with Year Up, former board member for Friends of Young Achievers, and a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategist.

Heidi is the proud aunt/great aunt of 14 nieces and nephews and two bonus nieces. They are her joy. The older nephews have become her protectors.

Heidi is an NFL football fan. As a child, she taught herself the game. In 2017 she won her NFL.com fantasy football league. Heidi is an avid reader (Audible listener) of romance novels, a lover of purses and handbags, and a tea snob who believes bling is always appropriate.

She lives in Boston, MA.

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Connect with Heidi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamheidi01
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/heidi-lewis-ivey

Devotionals for the Heart: How to bear good fruit in God's Kingdom

Fruit Bearing in God’s Kingdom
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

—Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

This morning a friend sent me a video of her little granddaughter reciting Galatians 5:22-23. She couldn’t have been more than five or six years old, but she was perfectly at ease as she quoted God’s word without any coaching. It was a beautiful testimony of her family’s dependence on the Lord and their devotion to teaching their children to memorize Scripture.

That little girl’s testimony convicted me not just because she knew all the words, but because her sweet face was wreathed in smiles as she spoke. She was dancing as she remembered each part, and when she finished her joyful rendition, she looked up adoringly at her parents to make sure she had said it all perfectly.

It convicted me because I realized how seldom God’s fruit of the Spirit in me looks like that young child. And it made me wonder if anyone who knows me would even recognize me if my face was as radiant as the girl in the video appeared. Are the spiritual fruits that the Lord wants me to exhibit evident in my life?

Lately, I’d have to say maybe not.

Why do I let the cares and concerns of daily living defeat God’s invitation to live by the Spirit and to produce His fruit in my life? How do I become so overwhelmed with calendars and schedules that kindness and gentleness rush out of my relationships? What will it take to show me how to dance again in the eyes of my Heavenly Father simply because there is so much joy in His presence? When will I wake up and realize that there is beauty in faithfulness, peace in obedience, and self-control in His strength?

As the Old Testament psalmist asked, “How long, O Lord?” Psalm 13:1 (ESV).

So, instead of whining and complaining about having too much to do, my question to God now is, “Lord, how long do I need to exhibit Your spiritual fruit in my life?” Rhetorical questions like this one deserve only one answer, and the answer is always.

Does God want us to always share His fruit of the Spirit with those in the world around us? Absolutely! How can we do that? One word: obedience. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It’s a great place to start.

Give thanks because our joints are hurting? Sure, and while we’re at it, let’s thank God for the physical therapist who is helping us to feel better. Thank Him for our meager paycheck? Of course! Thank Him for giving us a job.

Is practicing gratitude working for you yet? It is for me. Somehow life seems a little bit more hopeful. Maybe it feels a little more joyful. And maybe obedience is even showing me how to live closer to Christ. If this keeps up, I might turn into that little girl who loves learning God’s Word. My aching joints don’t ache quite as much when I’m dancing!

Whatever our circumstances, our thankful attitudes are steps of obedience to create loving, peaceful, joyful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled fruit for the Lord to multiply as He sees fit.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, cautions us about fruit-bearing in Matthew 21:18-22 (ESV). During the last few days before the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection, He and His disciples were walking one day when they came to a fig tree that was barren, with no fruit on it anywhere. Jesus says to the tree, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” (Matthew 21:19). That tree withered immediately at the rebuke of our Lord.

Let’s not be like that barren tree. In obedience, let us follow Jesus every day of our lives. May we have fruit to share with our brothers and sisters in this world so we can resemble that little girl who gazed up in adoration when she finished her verses. Our Father (God) sees and is glad when we follow Him genuinely.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord God, oh, how we need You! Please show us the places where You ask us to obey. Please forgive us for our gloomy outlooks and for our rebellion against You, too. Lord, we need Your spiritual face-lifts in our lives. Please let us please You, our Savior and our God. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Wanna Bear Fruit (the Fruit of the Spirit)” by CJ and Friends. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure

Hidden Treasure
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

–Matthew 13:44 (NIV)

Sometimes, Christianity can seem radical.

I have witnessed Christians who radically turn their life upside down once they accept Jesus Christ into their heart and life. The shift is often drastic and may even appear to be crazy to those who have not yet met our Lord and Savior, Jesus, personally. But no matter how many times I witness this radical shift, I can feel the excitement and freedom that these new Christians are experiencing for the first time in their life. They have found a hidden treasure, reserved only for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.

But this treasure is not really hidden. This treasure also has no limits. Every person who has ever lived could take this treasure and no one would have to go without. The moment someone finds this treasure, they understand what the man in the verse shared above for this devotional understood: This treasure is worth selling everything for. If you have experienced this treasure, you know that the treasure refers to Jesus Christ and His gift of eternal life.

I smile even now as I remember the day I found this treasure. However, we are not limited to finding this treasure only once. We always smile and enjoy hearing the stories of new Christians, but we often forget that we too have treasure to find. Yes, we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and we are on our way to Heaven, but our treasure does not end there.

Just like the treasure in the verse above, our treasure is often hidden. It is something that we cannot see or touch, but we know it is there. Our treasure is not money, fame, or influence. Our treasure is our relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship with Jesus Christ is worth selling all our worldly possessions for. He is worth getting rid of our pride, selfishness, and personal desires. Having an intimate and personal relationship with our Creator is the most beautiful treasure we could possess in this life.

Have you forgotten about the treasure in the field? Are you holding onto the things of the world instead of selling everything for a relationship with Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the great Treasure of the Christian life, dear reader. He is worth every sacrifice that you give of yourself. Trust Him wholly and find your treasure in Him.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for offering Yourself as the greatest gift. Please help us to see that a relationship with You is all the treasure we need. Grant us the radical faith to leave the world behind and trust only in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Treasure” by Meredith Andrews. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five.

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

~*~
Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Reflection

Reflection for Growth
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“…but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:10-13 (NIV)

Reflection is a beautiful thing.

As we approach the last few days of 2021, many of us may feel overwhelmed with goal setting, creating resolutions, and identifying the promises we are agreeing to take into 2022.

But while we are so focused on preparing for what is to come, it is just as important to take a moment to reflect on the experiences you have had thus far. The trajectory you are on now is primarily based on the experiences you have had up until this moment. Because of the significance of your experiences, it is important to take a moment to reflect on where you have been, what you have experienced, and how those things affect where you may be going.

Reflection helps us to make wise, sound decisions. Reflection helps us take a moment to measure our effectiveness in the work we do from day-to-day. Reflection helps us ensure our ‘why’ is still our ‘why’ right now.

As we reflect to prepare for a new year, we can easily find ourselves focusing on all the things we were not able to accomplish in 2021. We quickly recall all the ways we feel that we failed: in our professional life, in our personal life, in our relationships, in the way we show up for others, and even in the way we show up for ourselves. We focus on the things we did not do in efforts of making these things priorities that we can cross off our to-do lists.

But please allow me the opportunity to encourage you to leverage your strengths by acknowledging all of the things you accomplished this year. It may have been the success in your relationships or the promotion in your professional life. Maybe it is that you made strides with your health and nutrition goals. Maybe it is something else that is tangible and documented.

I also want to make sure we allow ourselves the space to own the growth we have experienced in our spiritual life. We have opened our hearts to be willing to hear God as He may speak to us in a new way that is unconventional to us. We have learned to be still for the purpose of thinking more clearly and simply waiting to hear God’s voice.

We have accepted that we must view ourselves with a Kingdom mindset. We have recognized that our identity is rooted in His purpose for us and is not limited to the roles we play in the lives of those we love. We have shifted our perspective and our posture before Him in order to receive all the things He has in store for us. And at the end of it all, we have learned to “praise our way through” so we can truly embody the joy we have been searching for.

Whatever you do, don’t allow the things you were not able to do to overshadow the major milestones you have reached in your life. The growth you have experienced simply serves as a reminder that you have been equipped for this, and there is so much more to come.

Let’s Pray: Lord, we simply want to use this moment to reflect and say thank You. We thank You for allowing us continued opportunities to grow in You. We thank You for your grace, your mercy and your kindness. We thank You for the love you show to us. We thank You for loving us when we struggle to know what love is and how to show love, grace, and kindness to ourselves and others. We thank You for life. We thank You for everything—seen and unseen, spoken and unspoken. We are in awe of You and or your work. Thank You. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

With an ever-growing desire to continually learn the Word of God and present teachings based on Biblical principles, Erin M. Handley is committed to her calling of teaching and inspiring others to ‘be more by doing more.’ With this in mind, Erin mentors young women and appreciates seeing the growth and change in the lives she impacts.

While she sincerely enjoys mentoring and speaking to young people, she is most passionate about educating and empowering women from various stages of life about Biblical womanhood and how to live out those principles in today’s world.

For over 15 years, Erin has worked with youth and adolescents in the fields of mental and behavioral health, education, and ministry.

When reflecting on her experiences in ministry and non-ministry settings, her most memorable encounters have been those that allowed her the opportunity to teach the Word of God in a way that is most relatable to the audience she served in that moment. She has enjoyed writing since her youth, but only recently felt the call to share her writing with the world.

With an undergraduate degree in English and a graduate degree in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, Erin M. Handley has been fortunate to be able to leverage her gifts and her passions throughout her career in Education.

Aside from reading, writing, and mentoring, Erin enjoys dancing, interior design, cooking, and most other activities which allow her to utilize her creativity.

Devotionals for the Heart: Identity

Identity: Kingdom Legacy
A devotional by Erin M. Handley

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

– Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

Identity. Complex, yet so simple.

Basic psychology reminds us that everyone goes through stages where they explore various behaviors and roles as they search to create and solidify who they are. It is generally associated with a phase that occurs in preteens and teenagers, but the phase to some degree lingers in the minds of adults, too.

These stages primarily are bouts of identity exploration – or more specifically, identifying and validating the person they want others to see. Despite this phase many of us go through, many of us never stray too far away from what we know to be true about whose we are although we sometimes struggle to articulate who we are.

It is easy for many of us to limit our identities to who we believe others would see us as if they knew our stories. Some people associate their identity with the trauma they have experienced in their life. It is also easy to associate one’s identity to the legacy they hope to leave behind in the future – one as a husband or wife, a parent, mentor, or friend. A great person of great impact. All of the things many hope can be said of the legacy they leave behind when they are no longer here.

But then I am reminded that His purpose for me is so much greater than my desires could ever be. I remember that as a daughter of the Eternal King (God), He has positioned me to leave a much bigger legacy than I could fathom simply by adhering to His will.

Sometimes, we tend to become so wrapped up in the identity we have allowed our situation to create for us, that we forget to willingly embrace and prioritize the identity that God created for us. Our identity is much more than the trauma we experienced through life or the roles we play in the lives of others. I know many people who have clung to the idea that their identity is limited to the roles they play in the lives of other people: husband, wife, homemaker, the parent working two jobs just to make ends meet or the entrepreneur who never wants for anything because they have everything they ever wanted. These are all great things, and I know many phenomenal individuals who carry out their roles incredibly well. But I also know these roles are not the sum total of who they are or who you are.

Truthfully speaking, our identities are much more than those things that make-up the best or the worst parts of us. These titles and attributes that stem from what you do for others and how others see you are not who you are. It’s what you do, but what you do does not solely define you. Who you are is a child of God. You are a child of the King. You are exactly who God created you to be for the purpose of His Kingdom.

Our identities should speak to who we were created to be. Our identity should be rooted in our Kingdom purpose and not the roles we play in the lives of others. Your primary role is to be just what He called you to be in this season – regardless of what it looks like.

Whatever it is that you believe that God has called you to be, be sure that you are doing so as a commitment to God and not to anyone else. Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) instructs us to remember that “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

As you serve Him, come out of the shadows of the identities rooted in limited perspectives of those you serve. I challenge you to elevate your role as husband, wife, parent, family, or friend to that of one who works to elevate the Kingdom. As a child of the King you have a very specific call on your life and it is up to you to walk in the purpose He created for you.

Remember, you have a very critical role to play in God’s master plan.

Let’s Pray: Lord, in all that we do, help us remember to do it all for You. Help us to remember that if we follow You in every aspect of our lives, then You will ultimately lead us to the destiny that you have specifically created for each and every one of your children. Continue to love us in such an intimate way that we cannot deny that our identity is in You. Help us to understand that at the end of it all, when people look at us, they should see You. Thank You for grace and Your unwavering love for us. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

*Note from Alexis: Erin’s devotional message today reminded me of this song by Crystal Lewis called “Remember Who You Are.” Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

With an ever-growing desire to continually learn the Word of God and present teachings based on Biblical principles, Erin M. Handley is committed to her calling of teaching and inspiring others to ‘be more by doing more.’ With this in mind, Erin mentors young women and appreciates seeing the growth and change in the lives she impacts.

While she sincerely enjoys mentoring and speaking to young people, she is most passionate about educating and empowering women from various stages of life about Biblical womanhood and how to live out those principles in today’s world. 

For over 15 years, Erin has worked with youth and adolescents in the fields of mental and behavioral health, education, and ministry.

When reflecting on her experiences in ministry and non-ministry settings, her most memorable encounters have been those that allowed her the opportunity to teach the Word of God in a way that is most relatable to the audience she served in that moment. She has enjoyed writing since her youth, but only recently felt the call to share her writing with the world.

With an undergraduate degree in English and a graduate degree in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling, Erin M. Handley has been fortunate to be able to leverage her gifts and her passions throughout her career in Education.

Aside from reading, writing, and mentoring, Erin enjoys dancing, interior design, cooking, and most other activities which allow her to utilize her creativity.

Devotionals for the Heart: How to be "Kingdom Minded" while on Earth

Kingdom Minded
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture:

Matthew 5:1-14, Colossians 3:23-25, Mark 7:6, Psalm 44:21 (NASB)

As believers, we hear that this world is not our home. We may even think about that once in a while. It’s not all of us sitting around on clouds playing harps, either. But, how many of us have really become kingdom minded? What I mean by that is to have everything we do, say, think, and feel be focused on advancing the kingdom of God.

Too many believers are fixated on this world. Yes, we live here at the moment, but, as those who believe in salvation through Christ Jesus, this is not where we will spend the rest of eternity. We get wrapped up in the daily concerns, which may be important, but they are not where our focus should be. Jesus talked about the “kingdom of heaven” or the “kingdom of God”, which are interchangeable, over 100 times in the New International Version of the Bible. That’s just in the little time we have of His recorded life. 

Heaven and God’s kingdom are talked about countless times in the Old Testament, too. Yet, so little emphasis is put on thinking about where we will spend the majority of our time. If it was that important to Jesus, I believe we need to start paying a lot more attention to what He says the kingdom of God will be like, and putting our eyes on that, rather than the stuff here.

Matthew 5:1-14 tells us that there is a kingdom in which all the suffering and growth we’ve experienced will be rewarded. We also see that in Colossians 3:23-25. How do we have a kingdom mindset? We stop looking at this world for our satisfaction and happiness, or our emotional wellbeing. We stop expecting people to be what only Christ can be in our lives. We seek to do what our heavenly Father asks of us, even if it means people will not look at us the same way. It means wanting Jesus’s way more than our own. It means asking God what it is He wants to do in my life, not what I want to do. It means saying yes to some things and no to others, as the Holy Spirit guides. It means letting go of things which do not bring glory to our Father. It means allowing the Word of God to be our basis for everything we believe, not our feelings. It means stepping out in faith when the way does not seem safe, because He called us to do it. It means accepting that everything He says is true and allowing Him to change the way we think.

It looks like loving our neighbor, when they aren’t loveable. It looks like being kind when someone treats us poorly. It looks like praying for the person in traffic or who left their cart in the middle of the aisle at the store, because we cannot know the heart of another. (Psalm 44:21) It looks like speaking kindly to those in your own household and family. It looks like praying for that person you don’t like, and not the “God, strike them down” kind of prayer. It looks like giving someone the benefit of the doubt before judging their intentions as ill against you. It looks like reconciliation with someone, as far as it is with you, especially if it is a brother or sister in Christ. (Mark 7:6)

It is praying for the salvation of everyone, not just people we like. It is dwelling on the good, rather than the bad in our own lives and those of others. It is radical living. It is hard choices. It is hard, yet simple.

It is the sweetest fragrance to the nose of God our Father. It is joy and life and hope. It is peace, patience, kindness, forgiveness…it is love.

Let’s Pray: Dearest Lord Jesus, You cared enough to tell us about Your kingdom. Give us the courage to seek it more in this world and lead others to it. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.  

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

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Connect with Allison:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amwilson

Devotionals for the Heart: Born Again

Born Again
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” – John 3:7 (KJV)

If you read and study The Holy Bible, you may be familiar with this verse in the book of John where Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews and explaining to him about how to be saved.

Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3 (KJV)

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus at night inquiring how one could be born again. It’s interesting that he came at night so his friends wouldn’t know or see his interest in the teachings of Jesus. He marveled at Jesus saying he must be born again to get into Heaven. Not understanding, Nicodemus looked at this experience as a physical one, asking how one could return to their mother’s womb and be born again? He didn’t understand Jesus meant a spiritual re-birth.

Unlike the Sadducees, who generally held to have rejected any existence after death, the sources vary on the beliefs of the Pharisees on the afterlife. According to the New Testament, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead. See what is written in Acts 23:8 (KJV) in regard to the Sadducees and their belief: “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”

What is the born-again experience, this new life in Christ?

The new birth is, then, a sovereign act of God by His Spirit in which the believer is cleansed from sin and given spiritual birth into God's household. It renews the believer's intellect, sensibility, and will to enable that person to enter the kingdom of God. To break it down further, it is belief in the Cross, the redeeming Blood of Jesus and accepting the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, came as Man and God to bring us to His Father.

Jesus Christ lived, died, resurrected and is coming again to establish His sovereignty forever. When we accept Him, we are born-again. But, until we do, we are on the outside looking in. God is long suffering and will gently draw us by His Spirit unto Himself. Sometimes this can take years for some people. However, God is patient with us because He wants us all to be saved in His Kingdom!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.” 
– 2 Peter 3:15 (KJV)

Le’ts read 1 Timothy 1:16 where the Apostle Paul is talking to Timothy about the dangers of false doctrines.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” – 1 Timothy 1:16 (KJV)

I am grateful for God’s patience toward us. And I am especially grateful for His longsuffering with me. I had the idea that I needed to clean up my act before I could come to Jesus. I wasted so many years when I could have been serving my King by wrong-thinking. Many accept this deception and lie of the enemy of our souls. 

However, it is important to realize that if we could save ourselves, we wouldn’t need Jesus. We come to Him just as we are and He will do the transformation, the cleansing to form us into new creations in Him. Matthew’s gospel says the following:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
 – Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

I love this verse, Matthew 11:28, because it was the first one God gave me when I was born-again. It lets me know I can come to my Father when the burdens of life weigh me down. He’s always there and He’s my ever-present help no matter what the situation.

Paul in the above verses in Timothy warned against false doctrines. We have many in our world today. One I’m sure you’ve heard is, “all roads lead to God.” Indeed, there are many roads, many gods, many doctrines but unless they point to Jesus Christ, then you’ve taken a detour.

Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6 (KJV)

And here it is, how to be born-again.

I can only pray that you accept His way and settle the age-old question of how to be born-again. Christ wants all to come to repentance and join Him in eternity!

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry.  

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni who is a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.