Put God First In Our Giving & Put God First In Our Living

CHALLENGE: To have the Courage to say that ‘I WILL put God first’ and the RESOLVE to make it happen!

'If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time!'  As a believer, when you make a resolution, you don't have to do it by yourself.  Philippians 2:13  God will help you when you rely on him.  I am going to rely on the Lord and resolve to live right.

4 Ways to Live Right: - Psalm 101:2-4

You will not accomplish any goal unless you have determination!  Four times in this verse, David states, “I WILL”.  He didn't say he would try or he might.  That means absolutely nothing.  There is no determination or intention whatsoever.  David was determined to
put first things first!

1. Live Right Among Others - I WILL behave wisely, in a perfect way

To 'behave wisely' means "to act circumspectly" - 'circumspectly' means "to encircle, to see or inspect something".  “The Perfect Way” is God’s way of living.  We are not perfect, but we are being perfected.  We are being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Romans 12:2

2. Live Right at Home – I WILL walk within my house with a perfect heart

At home there are many distractions that make it difficult to live right.  We let down our guard due to familiarity; but we can't let our flesh rule!  “Perfect Heart” (vs. 2) DOES NOT mean ‘without fault’.  It DOES mean ‘Completely Committed to Doing What is Right’.  "I'm gonna commit my life to doin' what's right, both day and night!"

QUESTION:  How do we walk with a Perfect Heart?

• Take time to pray each day! - Ps 119:147 Just pray - it's a great way to start your day.  It's the First Fruit of your day!
• Be quick to forgive one another! - Col 3:13 Allow people room to grow - not an excuse for bad behaviour, but grace to change.  We all grow at different speeds in different areas.
• Be quicker to admit when you’re wrong. - Isa 57:15; Eph 4:26,27   Don't let the sun go down on your wrath.  It will give a foothold to the devil and a foothold becomes a stronghold!

3. Live Right With Your Sight - I WILL set nothing wicked before my eyes.

'Wicked' mean 'worthless, unprofitable, unbeneficial'  Putting God first requires removing anything that qualifies as 'wicked' from your eyes.

• The Law of Gravity states “what goes up, must come down”
• The Law of Garbage states “what goes in, must come out”

What you look at long enough is what you think about, talk about and then live out in your life.  When you learn something by visual, you double your chances of retaining it.  That goes for both good and bad. 1 John 2:16  Impure visual images will stimulate impure thoughts and actions.

4. Live Right in your Thoughts - I WILL NOT know wickedness!

“I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil!” Psalm 101:4; "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Sometimes we're sinking because of our stinking thinking!  When we change our thinking we can change our life! 

Scriptures on right thoughts: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:97-99; Philippians 4:8 These scriptures all come with a promise!

CHALLENGE: Have the Courage to put God first - and RESOLVE to make it happen!  Live right among others, at home, with your sight and in your thoughts.  This week, journal your journey with the Lord and reflect on what God is doing as you resolve to 'LIVE RIGHT'!