This past Christmas season, I was having a difficult time keeping up with my regular exercise routine because I was so busy with holiday-related activities and responsibilities. I had so much to do that I wasn't even getting the sleep that I needed. One morning, the Lord gently reminded me that I had been missing too many of my workouts. I asked Him how I was supposed to squeeze exercising in with everything else I had to do. That's when He told me, "Make it a priority." When I looked up the definition of "priority," I found that the word comes from the word "prior," which means "to come before something else." So I began doing my workouts early in the day, before I went on to do other things.

One definition of "priority" is "the concern, interest, or desire that comes before all others." I have discovered that when we make spending time alone with God each day a "priority," every area of our lives is transformed, including our relationships - especially our relationship with God. The Lord doesn't expect us to put Him first in our lives just because He wants to be closer to us - that's a huge part of it. But He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives so we can live the lives He has called us to - lives of freedom, wholeness, and excellence.

Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) This tells us that there are great rewards awaiting us when we give the Lord first place in our lives. Let's make 2025 our best year yet by making our God our highest priority!

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to make You my highest priority every single day. Remind me daily to spend undistracted, unhurried time in Your presence and Your Word. Restructure my priorities according to Your perfect will and purpose. Thank You that as I seek first Your way of doing and being right, You will pour out Your blessings upon me in full measure! (Matthew 6:33 AMP)