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Jennifer Hayes Yates

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Not My Own

October 11, 2016 By Jennifer H. Yates 1 Comment

11 Oct

Are you living with the Kingdom of God as your number-one priority?

I call this blog “One Thing” because I have learned that the secret to life is to seek One Thing above all else–Jesus–and everything else will fall into place. Several Scriptures bear that truth, but today my heart is focused on how we flesh that thought out. How do we make seeking Jesus the priority of our lives? I have always believed that worship and God’s Word are the two keys to seeking Him on a  daily basis. But in the last couple of days, God has led me to a deeper understanding of One Thing.

You see, my biggest concern is that many Christians couldn’t care less about making Jesus their number one priority. That’s why this nation is in the shape that it’s in. We are more concerned with our own little corner of the world–our needs, our family, our comfort–than we are with the Kingdom of God. I see Christian women who are obsessed with their looks. I see Christian men who are obsessed with sports. I see Christian youth who are obsessed with the world, and I wonder where Jesus fits into their agenda.

We aren’t Kingdom-minded, and we sure aren’t mission-minded. We are self-minded. I’m not judging. I’m in the same category. I seek God every morning through worship and His Word, and I love my time with Him. But when I step away from our little corner together and step out into my day, I forget most of what we talked about. I forget the conviction or the peace or the promise, and I just go right on with my plans for the day. My first priority may have been the Lord, but then I take it from there.

Until I really meditated on these verses this week:

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV).

These verses come in a passage in which Paul is addressing sexual immorality, but just think about the implications of these words. You are not your own. We are not our own, Christians. We were bought at a price–a very precious price–the body and blood of God’s very own Son. Really, what gives us the right to think we can say and believe and do whatever we want?

We have free will and, yes, we have the ability to say and believe and do whatever we want, but we sure won’t be living out the mission of God or furthering His Kingdom agenda on this earth. We won’t have ears to hear and eyes to see what God is doing in our midst because we will be so focused on our own plans.

We love to quote Jeremiah 29:11, but how many of us are actually laying aside our own desires and seeking God’s plan for our lives? And then when our world falls apart, we’re quick to blame God. But God says this:

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

If we would only seek His plan and His purpose for our lives, then we would see that plan come to pass. But that requires sacrifice. That requires acknowledging that I have no right to rule myself. I am not my own. I belong to God, and it is His Kingdom plans that matter. So how do we flesh it out? How do we live each day with Jesus as our number one priority?

It does still begin with worship and the Word daily. Many Christians don’t even spend time with the Lord every day, reading His Word and listening to His voice. That has got to be the first step. I believe that as we humbly seek the Lord, He will reveal His Kingdom agenda. Our part is to live surrendered–to wake up every day and say, “Lord, I acknowledge that you are God and I am not. I am not my own. I belong to You. You are the Authority in my life. Your plans are the only ones that matter. I commit this day into Your hands. Have Your way with me and lead me today to be on mission with You.”

As we begin to live Kingdom-minded each day, I believe God will begin to align our desires with His and our plans with His. I believe as we truly begin to “seek first the kingdom of God,” that God will start to align our purpose with His purpose–to see His kingdom lifted up and His name glorified in all the earth. I believe God will begin to align us with other Christians who are like-minded and bring unity and love to the Body of Christ.

I have so much more to share on this topic, but I will leave you today with this: God is setting apart a remnant of those whose hearts are devoted to Him. There is much going on in our nation and our world and in the heavenlies. If we want to be a part of what God is doing in these last days, then we had better get our hearts and minds set on the Kingdom.

“And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:12).

If you are a believer, you are Someone else’s property. Will you be trustworthy with what God has entrusted to you?

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Filed Under: Missions, Quiet Time Tagged With: Bible study, body of Christ, Christian devotional, devotional, Jennifer H Yates, Not My Own, one thing, quiet time, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, the Word, worship

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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