Have you ever felt stuck in life—like you weren’t sure what the next step was? Or maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed and burnt out from the twists and turns of life, wondering if this is really all you are made to do. All of us have felt that way at some time—but we were built for more! God has created each of us with a glorious purpose in mind. When we pursue a deeper relationship with our Father, we live a more fulfilled life. The challenge is to break free of the prison of the mundane and pursue a purpose-filled life by establishing healthy priorities that will strengthen us in our walk with the Lord.
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Priorities for Godly Living
Keeping God at the center of our life is our highest priority. But how do we do this? How do we make sure we are keeping our eyes on the Lord through everything we do? There are different areas in our life in which we can practice keeping Him as a priority.
In our thoughts—If we keep our mind focused on the Lord, it will help us to keep our heart fixed on Him as well. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Although there is much that happens in our day to day life that fights for the attention of our thoughts, we can actively discipline ourselves to keep our focus on the Lord.
With our time—There is a saying that goes, “If you care about something, you’ll make time for it.” This is true for dedicating time to the Lord. We can dedicate time to our Father through our daily devotions, Bible study, church attendance, prayer and meditation, worship, and more. If we want to make the Lord a priority in our heart, we can start by making time for Him in our life.
With our commitments—When we make decisions and start making plans, it’s critical to keep God as our guide through all of life’s turns. Before making big choices—where to move, whether to take a new job offer, whom we should marry—let’s resolve to bring our commitments to God. Like the psalmist said in Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” When we set the Lord before us and come to Him before making decisions, we won’t be moved by the turning tides of our world.
With our finances—Money is one of the biggest worries on people’s minds—especially now. But God has promised that He will always provide for His children. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” And Matthew 6:31-32 says, “Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” When we trust God with our finances, He will provide what we need.
With our future—We can trust the Lord with our future because He never fails to complete the work that He begins in our life (Philippians 1:6). It’s important to remember we aren’t made for this world, but we are just passing through on the way to our eternal home. Because of this, we can entrust God with our future and our goals as we commit to furthering His kingdom by carrying out our commission.
Spiritual Disciplines for a More Fulfilling Life
If we are committed to godly living, there are spiritual disciplines we can practice that will help us to grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord. Just as we build our physical muscles when we work out, we can build our spiritual “muscles” through a spiritual “workout.” Here are some biblical habits we can adopt for godly living:
Bible Study
Taking time to study God’s Word is an essential part of the Christian walk. The Bible contains God’s instructions to us for godly living. Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” All of who we are and how we are to live is rooted in Scripture—we cannot live by it if we don’t know it.Prayer and Meditation
Prayer is an important part of the Christian walk, for it gives us the opportunity to talk directly with the God of the universe! Throughout His ministry, Jesus made a point to spend time in prayer with the Father. And the more we talk with God, the deeper our relationship with Him becomes. It is also helpful to take some time to meditate on the Lord—to quiet our thoughts and be still in His presence, seeking to hear His voice.Journaling
Journaling creates a written record of God’s provision in our life. Writing down our thoughts and feelings is a great way to unburden our mind—to mentally get matters off our plate and give them to the Lord in writing. And when He answers our written prayers, we have a reminder of His providence!Fasting
Fasting is mentioned in the Bible on numerous occasions. In biblical terms, fasting is the act of limiting what we consume in order to focus on God. Temporarily abstaining from food helps us master the yearnings of our flesh and it aids us in developing self-control. The Jews of Jesus’ day sometimes fasted ritualistically (not from the heart), but it is meant to be an opportunity for self-examination and repentance. Choosing to fast can help sharpen our focus on God as we recommit ourselves to Him, bring our requests to Him, and listen for His guidance.Fellowship
Surrounding ourselves with godly people is important. There is a saying, “Birds of a feather flock together,” and this is true! The characteristics of our friends will rub off on us—so it’s essential to surround ourselves with people who have godly traits. These people will keep us accountable, encourage us to grow in our faith, support us through difficult circumstances, and uphold us in prayer. Matthew 18:20 says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”Stewardship and Service
The Christian mindset is a spirit of servanthood. The Bible says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When Christ came to earth, He took on the attitude of a servant—serving others and modeling how we can do the same. As Christians, we are God’s stewards, called to bear the fruit of His kingdom message while bringing Him glory (John 15:16). Let us be good stewards of the Gospel by serving others in the same way Christ served us.Worship
Worshiping God is an important discipline in the Christian walk, and it is not limited to singing hymns in church. We can worship God every day, wherever we are. We worship Him through prayer, silent reflection, song, dance, or even a simple declaration: “Great are You Lord!” The discipline of worshiping God consistently, throughout our day, will bring us closer to Him. No matter what we may be doing, it is always important to praise the Lord, thank Him for all He has given us, and rejoice in all that He has done for us.We were built for more than the routine of everyday life. Adopting these godly habits will help us take the next step in our Christian walk as we seek God with our whole heart. Today, choose to go deeper with your relationship with the Lord. Realign your priorities with God’s and develop habits that will help you grow closer to Him. The place you might feel trapped in doesn’t need to be the end of your story—it can be the beginning of a new one!
