So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:31-34 The Lord Jesus is saying we are no different from unbelievers when worry dominates our minds.
Please note: When you have a Kingdom mindset, you will know who you are and your purpose in this life. When you are focused on the Kingdom there is no room for worry or anxiety because you are aware of your first priority. The world, including religious minded people, is filled with anxiety and lack total faith in the King when troubles come. It is easy to think you have faith, until trials test it! When the Lord Jesus made the statement to seek the Kingdom above all else, it wasn’t a suggestion but a command. A religious minded person is always asking God for something rather than praising and worshiping Him for His goodness, provision and protection. In the Kingdom of God, we don’t need to ask. The Lord God knows our needs. We need to praise Him for it! When you are a citizen in good standing, the King takes care of His citizens because they trust in Him. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalm 37:3-5
Focus Point: Many times, I have stated that oil and water don’t mix. No matter how hard you try to blend it, it will not stay mixed. Faith and doubt are the same way. We claim to believe the Lord God and trust Him, but our daily lives, concerns and thought reveal just the opposite. The statement, “Actions speak louder than words” is definitely true! We may say we have faith and believe the Lord God provides for all our needs, but we work and strive to earn enough money for our lifestyle. The issue here isn’t hard work, but our focus and who we see as our source and provider. Your employer isn't your source! Your spouse isn't your source! If we are seeking the Kingdom first, our first priority will be time spent in His presence and in His Word. That is what He means when He says to seek FIRST the Kingdom and His righteousness. You need that quiet time between you and Him.
King David had joy in the fellowship of the Lord God. O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of You, meditating on You through the night. Because You are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:1-8 When did you last seek the Lord with that great desire?
Now that we have a better covenant and the Holy Spirit—the Governor living in our mortal body—we can worship and praise Him anywhere and anytime! I praise Him many times while I am driving (with my eyes open of course!) or sitting in my favorite chair at home. I have learned, and am still learning, how to totally trust in the King’s Word. In other words, I am still growing. Our preoccupation with material things, satisfying our needs and wants and getting ahead in this world, is nothing more than pagan—unbelievers—behavior. They are always self focused, looking for “more”. Rather than seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness, they are seeking after material things. Those who truly know the King as their Source don’t have those concerns because they are confident that no matter how things look, their King has taken care of them.
Please note: It is important to understand what I mean by pagan. Contrary to what many may assume, most pagans aren’t atheists, nor are they usually evil people. On the contrary, I discovered that they are highly religious people. The word pagan refers to worshippers. It refers to individuals who worship a god other than the Lord God of all creation, as revealed in God’s constitution (the Bible). An equivalent word for pagan is idolater. Pagans are zealously religious devotees and adherents to a specific system of beliefs and are rigidly faithful to a strict set of customs and rituals. But it is not the Lord God they worship, but their gods are what He has created. They worship the creation rather than the Creator.
King Jesus stated that only religious people—Gentiles, which is pagan—chase after the basic needs of life. It is time to set aside a pagan mindset with its priority of things and take up the divine priority of the Lord God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. In this way, He will give you peace. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:2-4
Once we truly understand that our provision and our protection is our King’s responsibility, we will have peace and not live in anxiety and strife. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the word of God.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
Please note: When you have a Kingdom mindset, you will know who you are and your purpose in this life. When you are focused on the Kingdom there is no room for worry or anxiety because you are aware of your first priority. The world, including religious minded people, is filled with anxiety and lack total faith in the King when troubles come. It is easy to think you have faith, until trials test it! When the Lord Jesus made the statement to seek the Kingdom above all else, it wasn’t a suggestion but a command. A religious minded person is always asking God for something rather than praising and worshiping Him for His goodness, provision and protection. In the Kingdom of God, we don’t need to ask. The Lord God knows our needs. We need to praise Him for it! When you are a citizen in good standing, the King takes care of His citizens because they trust in Him. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalm 37:3-5
Focus Point: Many times, I have stated that oil and water don’t mix. No matter how hard you try to blend it, it will not stay mixed. Faith and doubt are the same way. We claim to believe the Lord God and trust Him, but our daily lives, concerns and thought reveal just the opposite. The statement, “Actions speak louder than words” is definitely true! We may say we have faith and believe the Lord God provides for all our needs, but we work and strive to earn enough money for our lifestyle. The issue here isn’t hard work, but our focus and who we see as our source and provider. Your employer isn't your source! Your spouse isn't your source! If we are seeking the Kingdom first, our first priority will be time spent in His presence and in His Word. That is what He means when He says to seek FIRST the Kingdom and His righteousness. You need that quiet time between you and Him.
King David had joy in the fellowship of the Lord God. O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of You, meditating on You through the night. Because You are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:1-8 When did you last seek the Lord with that great desire?
Now that we have a better covenant and the Holy Spirit—the Governor living in our mortal body—we can worship and praise Him anywhere and anytime! I praise Him many times while I am driving (with my eyes open of course!) or sitting in my favorite chair at home. I have learned, and am still learning, how to totally trust in the King’s Word. In other words, I am still growing. Our preoccupation with material things, satisfying our needs and wants and getting ahead in this world, is nothing more than pagan—unbelievers—behavior. They are always self focused, looking for “more”. Rather than seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness, they are seeking after material things. Those who truly know the King as their Source don’t have those concerns because they are confident that no matter how things look, their King has taken care of them.
Please note: It is important to understand what I mean by pagan. Contrary to what many may assume, most pagans aren’t atheists, nor are they usually evil people. On the contrary, I discovered that they are highly religious people. The word pagan refers to worshippers. It refers to individuals who worship a god other than the Lord God of all creation, as revealed in God’s constitution (the Bible). An equivalent word for pagan is idolater. Pagans are zealously religious devotees and adherents to a specific system of beliefs and are rigidly faithful to a strict set of customs and rituals. But it is not the Lord God they worship, but their gods are what He has created. They worship the creation rather than the Creator.
King Jesus stated that only religious people—Gentiles, which is pagan—chase after the basic needs of life. It is time to set aside a pagan mindset with its priority of things and take up the divine priority of the Lord God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. In this way, He will give you peace. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:2-4
Once we truly understand that our provision and our protection is our King’s responsibility, we will have peace and not live in anxiety and strife. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the word of God.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
