GOD has promised His children great things this year. But He cannot fully bless you, if you persist in your sinful and indulgent lifestyle. He requires that you must be cleansed of all past sins. He demands that you must present your hearts to be purified, made perfect and holy just as He is. God’s ultimate intention is to give you a new heart – more amenable to His ways, more obedient to His words, and more loving towards Him. He also wants to fill you with the power of the Holy Spirit so as to enable you attain hitherto unknown heights, as you follow Him this year and beyond.

These are basic Christian experiences that bring us in tune with God, make it easier for us to serve and please Him. You, therefore, need to make a priority this year, of securing these crucial spiritual experiences. When you pray for them, God will give them to you. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). Once you begin by seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will add to you all other blessings that you may not even know that you need.

The priority of our lives must be to seek the kingdom of God first, as if other things don’t matter to us. This involves making what brings glory to God our foremost pursuit. It is only after this, that He will give us all other needs and riches of life – things we have not asked for. Unfortunately, the tendency in men is in the opposite direction. But it is foolish to think only about material things to the exclusion of spiritual requirements. Those who seek blessings from God must incline their hearts towards His testimonies. The scripture is replete with the examples of people that made God’s glory their priority. One of them is Ruth, who defied all odds and discouragement, to put God first in her life. Not surprisingly, she got the richest and highest of blessings from the Lord: she became a progenitor of David, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Her friend, Orpah, who had no interest in giving God first place in her life, promptly went without any record, while Ruth, who stuck to God, got a good portion in life and in all posterity. God demands the whole of our hearts. When we give Him first place in our hearts, we do not hesitate obeying God rather than men, irrespective of who is pressuring you. You must dedicate your heart, mind, character and everything to God. Whatever skills, talents and abilities you may possess, God must be above them in your life. Heaven must be above the earth in your desire; the spiritual must be above the material and physical things in your pursuits this year.

Once we have made God our priority, we must then unflinchingly seek His righteousness. This is practical, active, behavioral righteousness, which God imparts in us. This is to be preferred than any selfish agenda for personal greatness. Indeed, the path to the blessings of God is not to be consumed with seeking great things for ourselves, for then God rewards us with blessings beyond our expectation. We must follow the pattern of patriarchs such as Abraham who was called alone, but defied all odds, and resolutely sought the righteousness of God. He was in turn richly blessed by the Lord.

Anything you are seeking and for which you must strive with other people, is not the will of God. Carnal and unscriptural people, those that put money and material things, as their foremost priority, are governed by what they see. They may momentarily seem to gain earthly good; in the long run, they would lose all. But when we put God first, and follow the example of faithful Abraham, we will be blessed above measure. When you face the challenges of life quietly, God will defend you always. God requires righteousness in every area of our lives. And if there is one thing to desire earnestly this year, it is to possess the nature of righteousness, and maintain a life devoid of offence towards God and men. This is the key to possessing the riches of God’s holy kingdom.

“And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven… At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.”
Further Reading (King James Version): Ezekiel 36:11,25-27,37; Matthew 6:33; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; Luke 12:15-21; Psalm 119:36; Ruth 1:15-18; 4:13-17; Proverbs 23:26; Acts 5:29; Zephaniah 2:3; Jeremiah 45:5; Isaiah 51:1-2; Genesis 13:5-15; Genesis 20:3-8,14,17-18; Matthew 5:6; Colossians 3:1-4,14,16-17; Daniel 4:34-36; 2 Kings 20:3-6; Proverbs 3:1-2,9; 1 Kings 17:11-13; Malachi 3:10-12; Isaiah 58:8-11; Hosea 19:12.

(Daniel 4:34,36). In adversity, King Nebuchadnezzar learned to plead with God for mercy. In response, God did not only restore him to the throne, but gave him additional blessings, even things he did not expect. God usually gives to those that put their trust in Him much more than they desire. Make God the priority of your life, and He will add great things into your life this year. Put God first in your life, and He will feed you even though there may be famine in the land. He will make supernatural supplies and provisions for you. There will be abundant, overflowing blessings in your life. You must make serving and obeying God your priority this year, while all the time, living in righteousness. For then, He will so bless you. This year, the Lord wants you to put righteousness above riches. Put purity before prosperity. Put holiness before healing. Practical, active righteousness, precedes you, and attracts God’s glory upon you. And if you seek God this year with a sincere heart, He will come and rain righteousness on you, and add all other blessings to it.

Further Reading (King James Version): Ezekiel 36:11,25-27,37; Matthew 6:33; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; Luke 12:15-21; Psalm 119:36; Ruth 1:15-18; 4:13-17; Proverbs 23:26; Acts 5:29; Zephaniah 2:3; Jeremiah 45:5; Isaiah 51:1-2; Genesis 13:5-15; Genesis 20:3-8,14,17-18; Matthew 5:6; Colossians 3:1-4,14,16-17; Daniel 4:34-36; 2 Kings 20:3-6; Proverbs 3:1-2,9; 1 Kings 17:11-13; Malachi 3:10-12; Isaiah 58:8-11; Hosea 19:12.