As believers in Christ, we are called to prioritize God above everything else in our lives. Putting God first means recognizing His sovereignty, submitting to His will, and living our lives in a way that reflects His love and teachings. In today’s fast-paced world, it can be easy to get distracted by the demands of daily life, but God calls us to refocus our hearts and minds on Him above all. Scripture emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and seeking His kingdom first.
Putting God first is not merely a suggestion but a command that shapes how we live, make decisions, and interact with others. When we place God at the center of our lives, we experience His peace, guidance, and blessings in ways that go beyond worldly understanding. This article highlights 30 Bible verses that encourage us to put God first in every area of our lives—our relationships, our careers, our finances, and our daily decisions. These verses remind us of the importance of seeking God’s will, trusting in His plan, and acknowledging His lordship in our lives.
1. Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Jesus calls us to prioritize the kingdom of God above everything else. When we put God first, He promises to take care of all our needs.
2. Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Trusting in God with all our heart and acknowledging Him in every decision aligns our will with His, leading us down the path He has prepared for us.
3. Deuteronomy 6:5
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
God commands us to love Him with every fiber of our being. This is the foundation of putting God first in all things.
4. Matthew 22:37-38
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”
Jesus reinforces the commandment from Deuteronomy, emphasizing that loving God completely is the greatest commandment.
5. Luke 10:27
“So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and your neighbor as yourself.”
Loving God with every aspect of our being also means loving others as ourselves, reflecting God’s love in all our relationships.
6. Colossians 3:23
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”
Putting God first means doing everything for His glory, not seeking the approval or praise of others, but focusing on honoring Him in every task.
7. Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
When we put God first and delight in Him, He aligns our desires with His will and blesses us in ways that fulfill our deepest needs.
8. Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
This verse highlights the importance of meditating on God’s Word and seeking His guidance above the wisdom of the world.
9. Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
God calls us to be fully committed to Him, recognizing that we cannot serve both God and material things. Our loyalty must be to Him alone.
10. Romans 12:1-2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Living a life that honors God means offering ourselves as living sacrifices, resisting the temptations of the world, and seeking to align our thoughts with His will.
11. Mark 12:30
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
This verse reiterates the command to love God fully, in every way possible, making Him the focus of our lives.
12. Jeremiah 29:13
“And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
God promises that when we seek Him wholeheartedly, we will find Him and experience His presence and guidance.
13. Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”
This verse reminds us that we are to seek God earnestly and without delay, for He is always near to those who seek Him.
14. Proverbs 4:23
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
Guarding our hearts is essential for putting God first, as our hearts determine how we live and what we prioritize in life.
15. Romans 13:14
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
Putting on Christ means living according to His example, rejecting worldly desires, and focusing on spiritual growth.
16. Matthew 10:37
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
Jesus teaches that our love for Him must surpass all other relationships, and we must prioritize Him above even our closest family ties.
17. Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”
To be a true disciple of Christ, we must be willing to place Him above all other relationships, including our own life.
18. Hebrews 12:2
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Focusing on Jesus and His example enables us to put Him first, enduring life’s challenges with a kingdom-focused perspective.
19. Philippians 3:8
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
Paul exemplifies putting God first by considering everything else in life as worthless compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.
20. 1 John 2:15
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
To put God first, we must not be consumed by worldly desires but instead focus our love on Him and His eternal purposes.
21. Romans 8:5-6
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Living according to the Spirit means putting God first in our thoughts and actions, which leads to peace and eternal life.
22. Psalm 63:1
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”
David’s intense desire for God shows us what it means to put Him first—seeking Him with passion and longing.
23. 1 Chronicles 16:11
“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”
We are called to seek the Lord continually, relying on His strength and presence to guide us each day.
24. John 14:15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Loving God means obeying His commands, and obedience is a clear demonstration of putting Him first.
25. James 4:7-8
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Putting God first requires submission to His authority, resisting temptation, and drawing closer to Him in every aspect of life.
26. 2 Timothy 2:4
“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
As Christians, we are called to avoid distractions and focus on pleasing God, just as a soldier focuses on his mission.
27. Ephesians 5:1-2
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
We are called to imitate God and live in love, reflecting His character and making Him the central focus of our lives.
28. Matthew 16:24
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’”
Putting God first requires self-denial and a willingness to follow Jesus, no matter the cost.
29. Revelation 2:4
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
This warning reminds us to not neglect our initial passion for God but to continually prioritize Him in our lives.
30. 1 Peter 5:6-7
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Humbling ourselves and casting our cares upon God shows that we trust Him completely, acknowledging His sovereignty over all aspects of our lives.
Conclusion
Putting God first is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to seek His will, trust His plan, and align our hearts and actions with His purpose. These 30 Bible verses remind us that when we prioritize God in our lives, He blesses us with peace, joy, and fulfillment. Through obedience, love, and surrender, we experience the fullness of life that God has intended for us. Let us continually strive to seek God’s kingdom first and trust that He will take care of every detail of our lives.
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