In a world full of distractions and competing priorities, putting God first is a guiding principle that can anchor our faith, shape our values, and provide true fulfillment. The Bible gives us timeless guidance on this, encouraging us to live lives centered on Christ. Below are Bible verses that reveal the power and peace found in prioritizing our relationship with God.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Commitment to God
Seek First the Kingdom of God
Jesus calls us to seek God’s kingdom as our primary pursuit. Putting God first means focusing on His will above our own, trusting that He will meet all of our needs. In a world of temporary pursuits, Jesus reminds us that true fulfillment and security are found only in Him.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
This verse emphasizes that our first priority should be God’s kingdom and righteousness. When we trust God fully and align our values with His, He promises to provide everything we need. It’s a call to reorient our lives toward His purposes, finding peace in knowing He will take care of us.
Luke 12:31
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
Here, Jesus repeats the priority of seeking God’s kingdom. It assures us that God is fully aware of our needs and committed to fulfilling them when we prioritize Him. In a life that seeks God first, our desires align with His purposes, creating a life that is both fulfilling and spiritually rich.
Proverbs 3:6
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
This verse encourages us to rely on God’s guidance by seeking His will in every decision. When we turn to Him first, He offers direction and wisdom, making our paths clearer. This guidance is a promise of clarity and purpose for those who prioritize their relationship with God.
Colossians 3:1-2
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
This passage urges believers to maintain an eternal perspective. By focusing on heavenly realities, we remind ourselves of what truly matters. When we prioritize God, we align with the eternal purposes that surpass the temporary concerns of this world.
Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
Here, we learn that delighting in God aligns our desires with His. When we find joy in His presence, our hearts are transformed to seek what He desires, making it easier to put Him first. God’s blessings follow as we make Him our greatest joy and priority.
Trusting God Above All Else
Trusting God means leaning on His wisdom rather than our own understanding. By putting Him first, we place our faith in His perfect plans. Trusting Him opens us to His peace and provides stability in uncertain times, reminding us that God’s ways are higher than ours.
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”
This verse calls us to a deep, unwavering trust in God. It reminds us that relying solely on our limited understanding can mislead us, but trusting in God’s infinite wisdom leads to true security and peace. By putting God first, we choose to rest in His knowledge, knowing He guides us with love.
Psalm 56:3
“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”
In moments of fear, we are invited to turn our trust to God. This verse emphasizes that God is our protector and source of strength. By putting our confidence in Him, even fear loses its grip. Trusting God first shifts our focus from our anxieties to His enduring faithfulness.
Jeremiah 17:7
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”
Trusting God brings a profound blessing into our lives. This verse assures us that placing our hope and confidence in God positions us to receive His guidance and peace. When God is our first priority, our faith is steadfast, unshaken by circumstances.
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
This promise of peace flows from trust in God. By keeping our thoughts on Him, we receive a peace that the world cannot offer. Putting God first quiets our worries, grounding us in His unchanging nature and allowing His peace to reign in our hearts.
Psalm 62:8
“O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”
God invites us to trust Him at all times, no matter what we face. This verse reminds us that God is a safe refuge where we can bring our worries and fears. Placing our faith in Him first makes our relationship with Him our place of safety and strength.
God’s Will Over Our Own
Putting God first also means yielding to His will above ours. Surrendering our desires to Him brings freedom, as we let go of our plans to embrace His. Living in submission to God allows His wisdom and love to guide us toward His ultimate purpose for our lives.
Luke 22:42
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
In His moment of deepest anguish, Jesus exemplified the ultimate act of surrender. By submitting to God’s will, even through suffering, Jesus demonstrated that God’s plans are always good. Putting God first involves the courage to trust in His wisdom, even when it challenges our desires.
Matthew 26:39
“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'”
This verse captures Jesus’ deep trust in His Father’s will. Even in moments of difficulty, Jesus prioritized God’s plan over personal comfort. This surrender shows us that putting God first requires complete trust in His greater purposes, no matter the cost.
Proverbs 16:3
“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”
By committing our actions to God, we align our goals with His purpose. This verse reassures us that when our priorities are rooted in God’s will, success follows naturally. Making God’s will our first pursuit reshapes our plans to reflect His vision for our lives.
James 4:15
“What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.'”
This passage calls us to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in all we do. Recognizing that His plans are superior, we remain open to His guidance. This mindset fosters humility, reminding us that God’s will ultimately directs the paths of those who seek Him first.
Romans 12:2
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
This verse urges us to prioritize God’s transforming work over worldly influences. By seeking God first, we open ourselves to His renewal, aligning our thoughts and values with His. Transformation begins as we place His will above all else, allowing His power to shape us into His image.
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Living by Faith, Not by Sight
Living by faith calls us to trust in God’s unseen promises rather than relying solely on what we can understand or control. By putting God first, we demonstrate our faith in His perfect timing and provision, embracing His plans even when they’re beyond our understanding. Faith allows us to live confidently in His promises, knowing that He is faithful.
2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we live by believing and not by seeing.”
This verse encourages us to prioritize our faith over our senses. Trusting in what we cannot see reflects our commitment to God’s promises, showing that we put Him first even when our path is unclear. True faith places confidence in God’s unseen guidance, fostering a reliance that deepens our relationship with Him.
Hebrews 11:1
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
Faith is trusting in God’s promises even when they’re intangible. By embracing faith, we affirm our commitment to God’s unseen plans. This verse reminds us that living by faith—putting God first—grounds us in a hope that surpasses our understanding, securing us in His faithfulness.
Romans 1:17
“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.'”
Our relationship with God begins and endures through faith, empowering us to live by His righteousness. Putting God first by living in faith allows His Spirit to guide us, leading us toward a life that reflects His grace. A faith-centered life honors God as our ultimate source of purpose.
Galatians 2:20
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
This verse expresses a profound surrender to Christ’s presence. Living by faith means recognizing that our lives belong to Him. When we prioritize God by embracing this life of faith, our identity and purpose shift from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness, fostering a life marked by His love and sacrifice.
James 1:6
“But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
This verse encourages unwavering faith. Putting God first means placing all of our trust in Him alone, unshaken by doubts. An undivided faith in God leads to spiritual stability, giving us strength in times of trial. Faith without reservation signifies our commitment to depend solely on Him.
Prioritizing God in Relationships
Putting God first transforms our relationships, aligning them with His love, grace, and purpose. When we prioritize our relationship with God, we reflect His character in how we treat others, leading to healthy, Christ-centered relationships that honor Him. Loving God above all else inspires us to love others as He loves us.
Matthew 22:37-39
“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This teaching emphasizes the foundation of our relationship with God and others. Loving God wholeheartedly inspires us to extend His love to others. Prioritizing God in our lives influences our relationships, guiding us to act with compassion, respect, and kindness toward everyone around us.
1 John 4:19
“We love each other because he loved us first.”
This verse reminds us that our love for others stems from God’s love for us. When we put God first, His love flows through us, equipping us to love authentically. By focusing on God, we gain the strength and motivation to love others selflessly, reflecting His love in all our relationships.
John 15:12
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
Jesus commands us to love others as He loves us—selflessly and sacrificially. Putting God first means allowing His love to guide our actions and attitudes. This commandment calls us to follow Jesus’ example, loving others with patience, forgiveness, and grace, as an outpouring of our devotion to God.
Romans 12:10
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Prioritizing God transforms our relationships by fostering genuine love and respect. This verse encourages us to treat others with honor and affection. When God is our focus, we naturally express His love in our interactions, building relationships grounded in mutual respect and genuine care.
1 Peter 4:8
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
This verse emphasizes the power of love to heal and forgive. When we put God first, we’re empowered to extend grace and forgiveness to others. Showing deep love reflects God’s character, encouraging us to cultivate relationships built on understanding and compassion.
Honoring God with Our Finances
Trusting God with our finances is an act of faith, acknowledging Him as our provider. By putting God first in our financial decisions, we express gratitude for His blessings and demonstrate reliance on His provision. Honoring God in this area of life opens our hearts to generosity and stewardship, reflecting His priorities.
Proverbs 3:9
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.”
This verse encourages us to honor God with our finances by giving Him our best. Prioritizing God means recognizing His provision and offering our resources in gratitude. Honoring Him with our wealth fosters a spirit of generosity, reminding us that everything we have is ultimately His.
Malachi 3:10
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!”
This verse reassures us that when we give faithfully, God provides abundantly. By putting God first in our finances, we express trust in His provision, and He blesses us in return. Generosity allows us to experience God’s faithfulness firsthand, witnessing His blessings as we honor Him.
2 Corinthians 9:7
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.'”
This verse highlights the importance of a joyful, willing heart in giving. When we prioritize God, our giving becomes a joyful act of worship. God values our heart more than the amount, emphasizing that cheerful giving reflects our gratitude and trust in Him as our ultimate provider.
1 Timothy 6:17
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
This verse cautions us against relying on wealth, which is temporary. By placing our trust in God, we recognize Him as our source of provision. Prioritizing God over finances cultivates a spirit of contentment, reminding us that true security is found only in Him.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
Jesus teaches us that our hearts can only be fully devoted to one master. Putting God first means choosing Him over the pursuit of wealth. This commitment ensures that our values, actions, and goals align with His, freeing us from the limitations of worldly desires.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Surrendering to God
What Does the Bible Say About Putting God First
Putting God first is a key message in the Bible. It means placing God above everything else in our lives, letting Him be our guide in all we do. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This verse reminds us that when we focus on God and His ways, He will take care of our needs.
The Bible also tells us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). This love isn’t just a feeling; it’s shown in how we live, in our choices, and in our priorities. When we put God first, it affects how we spend our time, how we treat others, and how we make decisions. For example, in Proverbs 3:5-6, we are encouraged to trust in God rather than relying solely on our own understanding. When we trust and follow Him, He makes our path clear.
Putting God first can mean choosing to pray, read the Bible, and obey His commandments, even when it’s hard or when others may not understand. It might mean giving up certain desires or habits that don’t honor Him. The Bible assures us that when we live this way, we’ll find true peace and purpose. By putting God first, we honor Him and open our lives to His blessings, knowing that He will provide for us in all things.