37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

— Matthew 22:37-38

Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

— Psalm 105:4

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

— Jeremiah 29:13

But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

— Jeremiah 45:5

Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.

— 1 Peter 4:2

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

There are times when life’s twists and turns dash our hopes, dreams, and desires. Perhaps more importantly, what determines our priorities? Most of the time our lives do not pristinely align with the blueprints we envision. Circumstances shift, desires evolve, opportunities close, and detours derail our chosen paths. Unexpected upheaval and daily irritations can reveal whether we are seeking our own preferences or God’s desires. Sometimes, even after faithfully seeking God’s guidance in prayer, things do not turn out the way we think God intended.

Whether through external persecution or internal doubt, opposition regularly erupts in a life of faith. However, life’s challenges never provide an excuse to take our attention off the Lord. Nothing and no one can snatch God’s children out of His tender care. We all need God’s admonishment, encouragement, and wisdom to guide our next steps. Obedient faith requires us to place God first in our lives. God calls His children to deliberately prioritize what pleases Him.