Thursday, February 11, 2021
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah Psalms 3:3
First Things First
If you have grown up in church, you most likely have heard the term “firstfruits.” It comes from a verse in Proverbs 3: Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. v 9-10 It has to do with how we honor God by giving Him the “firstfruits” of our resources - the first ten percent off the top of everything we make should go right to God as an offering.
God deserves the first place over everything in our lives. He deserves first place in our hearts and over our families and over our circumstances. He desires to be in that first place. First thing in the morning He wants to be our first thought. He also desires to be the first one we run to whenever troubles come our way. He wants us to go to Him first with everything, before we turn to another person or thing for advice or comfort. I heard on a podcast recently that He wants our first feelings also. He wants to be the first one to hear everything that bothers us, worries us, makes us afraid, as well as makes us happy. He wants us to cry out to Him in our trials just as David did in the verse above.
When we put God in the first place in our lives, the first thing we think to do in times of crisis is to call out to Him. When we know He hears us, and we trust Him to answer in whatever way He knows best, it brings peace into our turbulent heart. He already knows what we are going through but calling out to Him opens our heart and exposes us before Him, revealing the condition of our heart. Praying takes our eyes off what is happening around us and helps us focus on Him. It helps us understand what we are feeling to talk it out with Him and helps us to be listening for His answer.
Not only does God hear us, but He also protects us like a shield and lifts our head. No more defeat and downcast feelings, only looking up to Him. Trusting in the sovereignty of God provides strength and confidence for anything we might face. Pray, cry out to Him, and know that He will not only make provision for your prayer, but is your protector and lifter of your head.
