You may be familiar with the following quotes by President Ezra Taft Benson, which are totally inspiring, yet lack a crucial bit of information: HOW???
When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities. We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives.
Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life.
In response to the question I pose of HOW to put God first, I recommend reading the book The Divine Center by Stephen Covey. Please keep an open mind as you read the book and do so prayerfully so the Spirit can help you discover a few personal ways you can center your life on God. Brother Covey has some great ideas and ones to definitely consider, but at the same time, we’re all unique and there may be ways that connect you with God faster than any of his ideas.
Over the next few weeks, I will share a few key points and “take aways” I got from this book, but I really think the whole book is worth reading prayerfully. And while it was written for and LDS audience, I believe any Christian can benefit from it if he or she is active in a church and values family, marriage, church participation, making a living, and generally figuring out how to keep a godly perspective in day-to-day life.
For today, here’s a favorite quote from the book:
I love my wife more when I love the Lord first. Put another way, I love my wife more when I view her through the lens of the gospel with a correct map or pair of glasses. Our love then is more mature than conditional, because of the security base and power source provided. I find that I discipline my children with more effectiveness and consistency and love when I have on the right pair of glasses than when I do not, because then I am not underreactive or overreactive, depending largely on my fatigue level or my mood. I become more unconditional in my love and more consistent in my discipline. (p. 106)
One of the pendulums many parents swing on is whether the family should be parent-centered or child-centered. … The parent-centered [authoritative] or child-centered [permissive] question is simply another false dichotomy, a false way of viewing the problem. The key is to cultivate not a parent-centered home or a child-centered home but a divinely centered home, one in which the Lord guides in all aspects of home life. (p. 115-116)
As always, if you decide to purchase the book, I thank you for using my affiliate links. Doing so supports me, my work, and my family, and helps me serve more people better.
This review is the first on my blog, but I have quite a few books I want to share. And just so you know, I will not recommend every book I read or have read. Hardly! I read voraciously, and I will select and hand pick those I review and only recommend the ones I feel strongly would best benefit you and your families. Yes, some will be JFFs (Just For Fun books), but most of the books I recommend have profoundly benefited my life and “Because I have been given much, I, too must give.” So, I share in the hopes of benefiting you and yours.
Happy reading!
Tina
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