Over the last few days, I have been thinking about the importance of putting God first. I got this idea from a news program that mentioned the basis of law. I thought if we would just go back to basing things on the Ten Commandments we would do well. Then I realized that I could base my own life on the Ten Commandments and do well. So I began thinking through them.
I got stuck on number one, ““You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, ESV). It occurred to me that a lot of things get in the way of me putting God first. Many of them are good things. Already this morning I have done a number of good things, but God was not first. I know in my heart and mind that he deserves the preeminent place in my life.
It amazes me that I believe in God and yet there are moments, sometimes days, that I live like a practical atheist. I put all kind of false gods ahead of the one true and living God. The false little god that I seem to worship the most is me. I put my thoughts, feelings, ideas, desires and will in first place in my life. If I am going to live by the Ten Commandments, I need to start with number one and make sure that God and his will takes first place in my life. That means all my moments and days, not just Sunday and Wednesday night.
To regain my focus, I have decided to worship and pray using this hymn as the cry of my heart.
Take My Life and Let It Be
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love—my Lord,
I pour At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself—and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Lord, let me worship by putting you first.