This fourth week in the study God. Plan. Move. began with reading both Matthew 22:34-40 and Ecclesiastes 12:31.

The subject? Loving God.

The Teacher asks the question in Matthew 22:36, “which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

The words ‘most important’ stem from the Greek word “protos” from which we derive our English word ‘priority’. In essence he was asking, “What is to be our priority in life?”

Priority >>> the right to precede all other things; the right to be given attention before anything else.

Loving God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind is to be our highest priority. From there, love will flow to our neighbors and others.

As we connect with God and His Word, He will set our day in order. He becomes our priority and our priorities become set in the right order.

Solomon in searching thoroughly came to one conclusion: “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is everyone’s duty” (NLT).

How can you love God better? What needs to change in your priorities?

~*~*~

We read from four portions: 1) Proverbs 3:5-6; 2) 16:9; 3) Isaiah 55:8; and
4) Ephesians 3:20-21.

I sure hope I am not alone when I say, I am a pretty organized person, somewhat flexible, but I much prefer things to go as planned.

But God interrupts.

He steps into our well laid plans and makes changes in His own way and in His own time. Without our permission, I would add.

My takeaways from each of the four Scripture portions above were:

1. We cannot depend on our own understanding to plan our day.
2. Even in planning our day, the Lord is determining our every step.
3. God’s ways and thoughts are way different than ours. Ours may be good, but His are marvelous. May we choose His marvelous thoughts and ways.
4. God is at work in our lives to accomplish more in our days than we can imagine.

May we take time each morning to submit our plans to Him. He may want to “edit” our day and do something unimaginable.

~*~*~

We closed the week with reading John 17:4; Romans 14:12; and 1 John 2:3-6.

Jesus stayed focused on what He had been sent to accomplish on this earth.

He remained “on-mission” as the author puts it. He completed the task purposed for Him, and in so doing, He brought glory to His Father bringing salvation to the world.

“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” (Romans 14:12, NLT)

“We do not segment our lives, giving some time to God, some to our business or schooling, while keeping parts to ourselves. The idea is to live all of our lives in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and for the honor and glory of God. That is what the Christian life is all about.”
(R.C. Sproul)

What mission has God given you, and how do you stay accountable for doing it?

~*~*~

As He becomes our priority in life,
we submit our plans to Him,
and live for the honor and glory of God.

Photo 1: by Emma Matthews on Unsplash
Photo 2: by Plush Design Studio on Unsplash
Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Purposeful Faith and  Grace Full Tuesday and InstaEncouragements .