It’s funny to me in a way that when crises come – floods, shootings, cancer, death… – one of the first things you hear is, “Where is God?”  People wonder how can a loving, merciful and gracious God permit such tragedies to happen.

But what about during the good times?  Where is God?

Is He front and center in your life, or is He periphery, an accessory, in the margins?

Matthew teaches us that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind (Matthew 22:37 ESV) and that we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33 ESV) while Proverbs tells us to commit our work to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3 ESV).  In short, God is to be central and to be first in our lives.

Too often though, when times are good – we are healthy, relationships are working, jobs are secure and paying well, children are obedient… – we forget about God.  He is anything but first and anywhere but central.  He’s actually more like an accessory – a scarf we throw on or a brooch we pin on at the last minute.  He’s in the periphery, off to the side, penciled in the margins of our lives.

What is important to us is apparent in our lives.  What we love is no mystery.

Friends know that I love “great big ol'” necklaces and brooches. The bigger the better.  My philosophy is if someone can’t see it across the room, then what’s the purpose of having it on.  I’m not a petite woman, so that itty bitty jewelry just doesn’t work for me.  (That was my story when I got married, too.  No little diamond for this girl.  Big girls need big diamonds.  Hey, just saying.  Didn’t work, though.  Frown.)

That’s how our faith in God and our commitment to His plan and purpose should be.  Recognizable.  Obvious.  Unhidden.

Not to brag.  Not to boast.  Not to call attention to ourselves, but to bring glory to His name.

God’s glory IS the reason.  It is the reason for everything, and all that we are, all that we do is to bring Him glory.  Especially in our living.

As Christians, we are called to live in a way that proves we belong to the God who calls us into His kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12 GW).  How do we do this?  Put Him first!  First thing in the morning when you rise – thank Him, praise Him, seek His direction for the day.  First in your finances – tithe from the top not the leftovers (if there are any).  First in your relationships – family, marriage, friendships – cutting loose those that hinder you from serving Him.  First in your interests and pursuits – career, education, hobbies, recreation.  First in your times of struggle – turn to Him, seek Him, pray to Him – first rather than Facebook, friends or phone.

THIS WEEK engage in self survey.  Where is Your God?  Do you leave Him on the dresser when you go to work?  Is he tucked “safely away” until you need Him?  Out of sight, out of mind?  Pray asking God to be first in your life then be intentional, living in a way that proves you belong to God.