I asked myself two questions recently as I examined what guides me as I navigate life. What goes on within me? What goes on around me? I decided to break it down and take a closer look.
What goes on within me?
Faith
God
What goes on around me?
The world
Circumstances
I asked myself again, what truly guides me in this world I live in? I stand by faith in a faithful God, instead of being stuck in circumstances and controlled by them. Circumstances can have so much sway on us if we aren’t standing firm in God.
The First Place is where my heart lives. The First Place is where I stand by faith instead of standing on the shifting sands of my circumstances. The First Place is a place of faithfully trusting God and trusting every single detail will come together as He’s planned. I have trusted it will because of Him and because of my relationship with Him. My circumstances have been covered with prayer and I know that I have sought wisdom and guidance from Him.
The Second Place is this world we live in, and it’s a world of circumstances that swirl constantly around us. There are often pressures and struggles with the things of this world—some are normal everyday things, others are challenging. We have to navigate through it all, often uncertain about what to do and which choice to make.
It comes down to standing firm in the First Place. Standing in a place of faith is where the circumstances of this world are resolved as God works through it all to accomplish His will. Prayer is answered. God is in control. He’s far superior to the circumstances of this life in which we’re entangled. He untangles each situation, straightens it out, and shows us His power and strength.
When I seek Him first I know that I’m standing firm in the First Place.
Matthew 6:33
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Additional verses that I hope you’ll check out! (Psalm 16:11, 25:4-5, 37:23; Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:5; 1 John 5:4).
—submitted by Kathy Cheek, US
tom felten on February 23, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Kathy, thanks for sharing these insightful thoughts. The challenge for me is to not move from the “First Place” when the troubles and distractions of this life come calling. How much better things go—spiritually, emotionally, decisions—when I seek God instead of trying to take things on in my own strength!
Lamont on February 23, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I also want to stay rooted in the “first place.” I’m finding that it requires day-to-day focus, not when the bottom drops out, but every days even when the sky is blue and sun is shining bright.
I tend to lose my focus during these moments because life seems good. I lose my discipline. Then, the storm comes, adversity becomes my partner, and I am smothered by anxiety, fear and doubt. My circumstances are my demons.
Only after several days of meditation, prayer and reading my Bible do I become rooted again in the “First Place.”
God is lovingly patient with me because I can always return to that “place.” When I am there, I’m fine. My goal now is to stay rooted.
Kathy @ In Quiet Places on February 23, 2012 at 3:33 pm
That choice to stand firm in the First Place is a day to day choice, sometimes moment to moment! Especially when circumstances are challenging!
mike wittmer on February 24, 2012 at 12:11 pm
These are good words, Kathy. It is our beliefs that interpret our circumstances, so what goes on inside must be much more important than whatever happens to us. You put it just right.