The God First Life

The God First Life by Stovall Weems is based on Matthew 6:33. "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these thing will be given to you as well." Weems states that until we put God first in all things and seek Him above anything else on this earth, we cannot live a fulfilled and satisfied life. It isn't circumstances, relationships, or material items that satisfy us. It is only when we seek God and His kingdom do we find what we require for life. By understanding this, Weems says, we discover that God has a plan for our lives. We don't have to carry the burdens of this life ourselves. And we realize His ways are so much better than ours. When we seek God above all else, He promises us a new family (with Him and the church), a new life (in Christ), and new freedom (to be who He created us to be). We enter God's family through salvation. We enter His righteousness through Christ, but we seek His righteousness by ordering our lives according to Him so our priorities reflect His priorities. Finally, when we live His way, we experience true life and breakthroughs we never knew of. Weems insists that whatever has first place in our lives order them. That force is what shapes all of our decisions and actions. To live a life of blessing, God has to be that force that has first place in our lives. In this book Weems describes how we can make that happen. We need to start by being part of a local body of Christ, His church. No church is going to be perfect. However, we were made for community and we need corporate worship as part of our lives. To do this, we need to meet regularly with fellow believers. We need people to hold us accountable and to walk with us in tears and laughter. We need an extended family, and God will provide that when we become part of this community. We also need time with other believers in worship and study. We need to immerse ourselves in the Word individually and in a setting where we can talk about its applications. When others see the freedom that comes from putting God first, they will want it too. We need to keep our priorities in order according to God's kingdom. This book is clear and easy to follow. Weems intertwines personal experiences with stories and Scripture. He talks with passion about being part of God's kingdom. He demonstrates that freedom and joy are possible. I would recommend this book to anyone feeling stagnant in his or her walk with God. Or even to those who may just need a fresh infusion of God's love and practical advice on how to put Him first. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”