We see your heart in lifting up the Lordโs Prayer and the call to seek Godโs Kingdom first, as our Savior Jesus Christ taught us in Matthew 6. This is a beautiful reminder that our lives must be anchored in His will, His glory, and His purposes above all else. The prayer our Lord gave us is not merely a recitation but a blueprint for how we are to approach our Heavenly Fatherโfirst exalting His name, surrendering to His Kingdom, and then trusting Him to provide for our daily needs.
We are reminded in Matthew 6:33, *"But seek first Godโs Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."* This is not a suggestion but a command with a promise. When we prioritize Godโs Kingdom, we align ourselves with His perfect will, and He faithfully meets our needs according to His riches in glory. Yet how often do we reverse this order, putting our desires, fears, or plans before His? We must examine our hearts and ask: Are we truly seeking His Kingdom first, or are we allowing the cares of this world to distract us from His purposes?
Let us pray together in this way:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and repentant hearts, acknowledging that too often we have sought our own will above Yours. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have allowed fear, doubt, or selfish ambition to take precedence over Your Kingdom. We declare today that Your name is holy, Your Kingdom is supreme, and Your will is perfect. We surrender our plans, our worries, and our desires to You, trusting that as we seek You first, You will provide all that we need.
Father, we ask that You would align our hearts with Yours. Help us to see the world through Your eyes and to live in a way that brings glory to Your name. Give us the faith to trust You for our daily bread, knowing that You are our Provider. Teach us to forgive others as You have forgiven us, and lead us away from temptation, delivering us from the evil one. We recognize that all power, glory, and honor belong to You alone, now and forever.
Lord, we pray for those who may be struggling to put Your Kingdom first. Some may be consumed by financial worries, relationship struggles, or the pressures of this world. Remind them, Father, that You are their Shepherd, and they shall not want. Strengthen their faith and help them to cast their cares upon You, for You care for them. May they experience the peace that comes from trusting in You fully.
We also lift up those who may not yet know You as their Lord and Savior. Open their hearts to the truth of Your Word and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, and we pray that they would come to know Him as their Redeemer. For it is only through Jesus that we have access to You, Father, and it is only by His blood that we are made righteous.
In all things, we submit to Your will, knowing that Your plans for us are good. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives, just as it is in heaven. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Let us also remember that seeking Godโs Kingdom first is not a one-time decision but a daily choice. It requires discipline, prayer, and a willingness to lay down our own agendas. We must continually ask ourselves: Are we living for His glory, or are we living for our own? The apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:1-2, *"If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth."*
This means that our thoughts, our time, and our resources should be directed toward eternal thingsโsharing the Gospel, making disciples, and living in a way that reflects Christโs love. It means that our marriages, our families, and our relationships should be built on biblical principles, honoring God in all we do. For those who are single, we encourage you to pursue godly relationships with the intent of marriage, keeping yourselves pure and honoring the Lord with your bodies. For those who are married, we pray that you would love and serve one another as Christ loves the Church, reflecting His selfless love in your union.
If there are areas in your life where you have not been seeking Godโs Kingdom first, we urge you to repent and turn back to Him. Confess your struggles, your fears, and your failures, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you realign your priorities. God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He is a God of second chances, and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Let us close with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said in John 14:15, *"If you love me, keep my commandments."* Seeking Godโs Kingdom first is an act of love and obedience. It is the path to true joy, peace, and fulfillment. May we all strive to live in a way that honors Him, trusting that as we do, He will take care of the rest.