God Doesn’t Want to Be “First” in My Life — He Wants to Be the Center of It
by Laudiaann Sylvest
I used to say it without thinking — “I’m putting God first in my life.” It sounded good. Spiritual. Noble. But one day, I realized something… maybe that phrase wasn’t painting the right picture in my heart.
See, if God is first on a list, that means there’s a second, a third, and so on. Family, work, hobbies, finances… and once I’ve “checked off” my God time at the top, the temptation is to just move on with my day. Without meaning to, I was treating my relationship with Him like another task to juggle, instead of the very source that gives life to everything else.
The Problem with “First Place”
If I’m honest, my daily to-do list used to look something like this:
- Pray and read my Bible
- Go to work
- Spend time with family
- Exercise
- Do something I enjoy
And if God was just #1, it was far too easy for the rest of the day to run on autopilot, without much thought of Him. It’s like I had “done my God time” and now it was on to other things. But God doesn’t belong in a box like that — He wants to be present in everything.
God as the Center
Jesus didn’t say, “Love the Lord your God first, then move on to everything else.” He said:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
That’s not about order — that’s about saturation. God isn’t meant to be just part of my life; He’s meant to be the center. The hub of the wheel. The heartbeat that pumps life into every other part of my day.
When God is truly at the center:
- My work becomes worship.
- My family life is shaped by His wisdom.
- My finances are handled with His principles.
- Even my rest and hobbies reflect His joy and creativity.
How the Bible Shows It
Paul didn’t clock in and out of his walk with God. Whether he was making tents or preaching the Gospel, everything was done through Christ (Colossians 3:17).
David didn’t just meet with God in the temple — he worshiped Him in caves, in battles, in palaces. God was woven into every moment of his kingship, victories, and even failures.
And Jesus? He said, “I only do what I see the Father doing” (John 5:19). His whole life flowed from the Father’s will — every step, every word, every act of compassion.
How I’m Learning to Keep God at the Center
- Integrate, don’t isolate — I’m learning to pray over all decisions, big or small.
- Stay aware of His presence — I whisper prayers while I’m cooking, driving, or in a meeting. Gratitude keeps me close to Him.
- Align my values — His Word shapes how I treat people, manage my time, and make choices.
- Use everything for His glory — Whether I’m folding laundry or creating something beautiful, I try to do it with Him in mind (1 Corinthians 10:31).
My Final Takeaway
God doesn’t want a seat at the top of my list. He is the list. When He’s the center, I don’t have to “fit Him in” — everything else in my life finds its place around Him.
It’s not about giving God first place.
It’s about giving Him every place.
