Day 21 - SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM In our life’s planning

“But above all, pursue His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you

as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has

enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

If you’ve been wondering how to plan for the new year, the Bible gives us a clear answer in the

verses above.

How do we pursue the Kingdom of God? First, we must get to know the King. The Bible reveals

who He is—removing the veil that the god of this world has placed over our eyes. (2 Corinthians

4:4) When we see the truth, that truth sets us free. (John 8:32)

The most powerful weapon we have to heal our hearts, our families, our cities, and our nation is

the daily decision to sit at the feet of Jesus. “If My people, who are called by My name, will

humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear

from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

When Jesus removes the veil from our eyes, we are able to see the truth and grasp the

promises God has for us. But simply going through religious motions—devotional time just to

check a box—is not what our King desires.

Pursuing the Kingdom is deeper than that. He wants us to stir our devotion, to long for His

presence. Let me illustrate:

A week has 168 hours. We spend about 56 hours sleeping (8 hours a day). If we work full-time

from Monday to Saturday, we dedicate around 48 hours to our jobs. Even with those

commitments, we still have 64 hours of free time each week. If we take away 2 hours a day to

eat, we’re left with 50 free hours.

How much of that time do we invest in intimacy with God? If we spend just 30 minutes a day in

devotion, that’s only 3.5 hours per week. Of the 50 free hours you have, is God worthy of those

3.5 hours?

For some, the only time spent with God is the 25 minutes of worship on Sunday and morning.

But we are facing a challenge. We live in a world full of distractions, with endless activities that

quickly consume our time.

Would you choose to be consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit instead?

Heavenly Father, forgive us for allowing ourselves to be so distracted by the busyness of the

world. We confess that, in many ways, we have imitated the world’s behavior. Help us to begin

this new year by planning our lives around You, putting You first in every area—at home, at

work, at school, and in the church.

Teach us to seek Your presence not for what we can get, but simply to adore You, to

contemplate Your beauty, to fast in gratitude for Your presence in our lives. Show us how to

worship proactively, honoring the One who bought our lives with His precious blood. We want to

adore You in spirit and in truth, without asking for anything, but just because we love You. In

Jesus’ name, Amen.