Putting God first means making Him the center of your life rather than simply placing Him at the top of a list. Your relationships, decisions, finances, work, time, and home are all shaped by who God is and what He desires.
The Bible shows us that putting God first begins with seeking His Kingdom, bringing Him our plans, and living every part of our lives in the name of Jesus. Practically, we can begin by putting God first in our prayers, our planning, and our daily practices.
What Does It Mean to Put God First?
Most people picture putting God first as placing Him at the top of a ranked list: God, then family, then work, then hobbies. But that picture misses something important.
God is not just on your list of priorities. He is the priority.
A better way to picture it is the solar system. Everything revolves around the sun. In the same way, God should be at the center of your life, and everything else should revolve around Him.
Your family, work, finances, decisions, and time are all seen through the lens of putting God first.
Whatever you place at the center of your life will influence your choices and shape your direction. That is why the question of what-or who-is at the center matters so much.
What Does the Bible Say About Putting God First?
God Calls Us to Worship Him Alone
Before God gave the Ten Commandments, He reminded His people who He was and what He had already done for them:
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."
Exodus 20:2-3 NIV®
God's command flows from His identity and His faithfulness. He is the Creator, the Rescuer, and the One who keeps His promises.
The command calls God's people to exclusive worship. No person, possession, ambition, or spiritual power belongs in the place that belongs to God alone.
Jesus Is the Center of All Creation
The apostle Paul reminds us that putting Jesus at the center is not simply a self-improvement strategy. It is a response to who Jesus is and what He has done:
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:13-14 NIV®
"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:16-17 NIV®
Jesus is not standing at the edge of creation. Everything was created through Him and for Him, and everything ultimately finds its proper place in Him.
Your present moment, future, marriage, parenting, singleness, work, and struggles are not beyond His care.
When we build our lives around success, comfort, approval, or anything other than God, those things eventually prove unable to carry the weight we place on them.
Jesus Tells Us to Seek God's Kingdom First
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to people who were anxious about their everyday needs. He reminded them that their heavenly Father knew what they needed and then said:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33 NIV®
Jesus calls us to seek God's Kingdom first and trust our Father with our needs. This is not a promise that life will always be easy. It is an assurance that we do not face life alone or outside of His care.
How Do You Put God First in Your Life?
1. Put God First in Your Prayers
Prayer is one of the most basic and powerful places to begin. Seek God before anything else each day.
Jesus consistently made space to pray throughout His ministry:
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Mark 1:35 NIV®
"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
Luke 5:16 NIV®
When you begin the morning by acknowledging God, opening His Word, and spending time in prayer, it can shape how you approach the rest of the day.
God invites you away from constant hurry, worry, and distraction and into a life that begins in His presence.
This does not have to be complicated. Before checking your phone, take a few minutes to thank God, read a passage of Scripture, surrender the day's concerns, and ask Him to guide you.
2. Put God First in Your Plans and Decisions
When you have a decision to make, seek God before you decide-not only after you have already chosen what you want.
Before Jesus chose His twelve apostles, He spent the night in prayer:
"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them…"
Luke 6:12-13 NIV®
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV®
Whether you are choosing a school, career, relationship, major purchase, or next step, bring God into the process.
Pray, consider what Scripture teaches, seek wise counsel, and ask whether the decision honors Him.
3. Put God First in the Way You Live
Putting God first is not limited to a quiet time or a church service. It becomes visible in the ordinary ways you live:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:17 NIV®
- Your relationships: Ask God to help you love, forgive, serve, and value others well.
- Your finances: Recognize that everything belongs to God and practice faithful, generous stewardship. Read Proverbs 3:9 in the Bible App.
- Your work: Work with integrity and purpose, remembering that your ultimate service is to the Lord.
- Your decisions: Ask, "Will this honor God? Is this consistent with what He teaches?"
- Your speech: Let your words reflect the character of Jesus.
- Your circumstances: Trust that God remains good in both joyful and difficult seasons. He may not always change your circumstances immediately, but He promises to be with you through them.
How Can a Family Put God First?
Putting God first as a family does not require a perfect schedule or a complicated spiritual routine. It begins by allowing your relationship with God to shape the ordinary rhythms of your home.
You might pray together before school, talk about what you are learning at church, read a short Bible passage at dinner, or serve someone in your community.
Parents can also model what it looks like to ask for forgiveness, trust God during uncertainty, and bring important decisions to Him.
The goal is not simply to add more religious activities to the family calendar. It is to help every person in the home understand that God is present in every part of life.
- Pray together, even when the prayer is brief.
- Let Scripture shape family conversations and choices.
- Participate consistently in Christian community.
- Practice generosity and service together.
- Let children see adults apologize, forgive, and depend on God.
Explore family ministries and parent resources at The Bridge.
What Is at the Center of Your Home?
Every home revolves around something. For some people, it is success, comfort, money, sports, entertainment, or the approval of others.
The question is not whether your home has a center. The question is what is at the center.
In the book of Joshua, after reminding the Israelites of what God had done, Joshua called them to make a choice:
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:15 NIV®
God alone is worthy of the center. When He is there, every other part of life can begin to find its proper place.
A Simple First Step You Can Take Today
Choose one area of your life where God has not been at the center and intentionally put Him first there this week.
It might mean praying before checking your phone, bringing a difficult decision to God, practicing generosity, or asking before a conversation, purchase, or commitment: "Does this honor Him?"
Start small. Start today. Let one faithful step become a new rhythm.
Questions for Personal or Group Reflection
- What is actually at the center of my life right now, and how do I know?
- Is there a decision I have been making on my own that I need to bring to God first?
- What would change in my home, relationships, or daily routine if I genuinely put God first?
- When things feel like they are falling apart, am I turning toward God or away from Him?
Frequently Asked Questions About Putting God First
What does putting God first mean?
Putting God first means allowing your relationship with Him to shape every other part of your life. Rather than treating God as one item on a list, you make Him the center of your relationships, priorities, plans, and decisions.
What Bible verse says to put God first?
Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first God's Kingdom and righteousness.
Other important passages include Exodus 20:2-3, Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 3:17, and Joshua 24:15.
How can I put God first each morning?
Begin by acknowledging God before immediately turning to your phone, email, or daily responsibilities. Spend a few minutes praying, reading Scripture, thanking Him, and surrendering the day's concerns to Him.
How do I put God first when making a decision?
Pray before deciding, consider what Scripture teaches, ask whether the choice honors God, and seek wise counsel from mature believers.
Putting God first means asking for His direction before asking Him to approve a decision you have already made.
How can I put God first in my family?
Build simple, repeatable rhythms such as praying together, discussing what you are learning from Scripture, serving others, participating in church community, and allowing faith to shape the way your family handles decisions, conflict, forgiveness, and generosity.
Looking for a Church Home in Fort Bend County?
The Bridge is one church meeting in Sugar Land, Richmond, Fulshear, and Online. We help people understand the Bible, build meaningful relationships, and take their next step with Jesus.
Whether you are exploring faith, returning to church, or looking for a church for your family, you are welcome here.