Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

God fills you with joy in His Presence.

The thought of having access to the Presence of God is still amazing. God has made known the path of life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We have gained access to God through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. Our sin debt has been paid in full. In Christ, we have been reconciled to God. God chooses to fill us with joy in His Presence. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to enjoy God’s Presence. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to enjoy the eternal pleasures.

God is for us. He created us. God is with us. Jesus redeemed us. God is in us. The Holy Spirit indwells us. The Presence of God is no longer confined to the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple. God’s Presence is no longer confined to the Ark of the Covenant. God has chosen to take up residence in us.

• “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV)

• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:13 (NIV)

Are you walking in the joy of God’s Presence?

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Psalm 19:8 (NIV)

God honors our obedience to His Word. One of the benefits of obedience is joy. Joy is not connected to our circumstances. As followers of Jesus Christ, we experience joy as a result of our abiding relationship with Christ marked by obedience.

• “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)

• “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV)

Are you receiving joy to the heart? Take a look at your level of obedience to God’s Word. Your joy will be proportionate to your level of obedience. Obey what God has shown you. Obey what you already know and enjoy the benefit of joy.

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)

Be intentional.

What moves the heart of God? What brings God pleasure? What makes God smile? Doing good and sharing with others! We have the freedom to choose to do good or to exit from the highway of holiness. We can embrace God’s best or settle for less. The choice is ours to share with others or to operate in the currency of selfishness. God is pleased when we choose to do good and to share with others.

• “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Rom 14:17-18 (NIV)

• “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” 1 Thess 4:1 (NIV)

Live your life with intentionality. Abandon to God’s will. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Love God and love others. Serve God by serving others. Put the needs of others before your own. Share Christ faithfully. Give sacrificially. Trust completely. Express God’s love intentionally.

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)

Be sensitive to God’s activity.

God wants us to express His love to His creation. People matter to God. Our value was clearly demonstrated by the ultimate love bridge ever built. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8 NIV). The Bible is God’s love letter to us portraying His constant pursuit to restore fallen mankind.

Being on mission with God requires sensitivity to God’s activity. We will never live for the global glory of God if we are insensitive to what He values. God wants to use us in His redemptive activity. What does this kind of sensitivity look like? It looks like remembering those who are mistreated as if you were suffering. It looks like remembering those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner. It looks like remembering the poor as if you were living in poverty. It looks like remembering those who are lonely as if you were lonely.

Are you willing to ask God to sensitize you to His activity? God is not through with you. Your light can still shine for His glory. His love can still be expressed through you to bring others into a saving relationship with Jesus.

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

God uses ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary.

Did you know that God receives glory as you make yourself available for His use? God is not restricted by your ability. God chooses to use you based on your availability. His plan includes His power. When you align your life with God’s agenda, God’s power is unleashed in you and through you.

Don’t limit God! If you only reach out to people you know, you will constrict the impact God wants to make through your life. Choose to engage people outside of your normal sphere of influence. Be available to be used by God to touch people you would normally not cross paths with. Pray the prayer of Jabez (1 Chron 4:10): Lord, bless me, enlarge my territory, let Your hand be upon me, and keep me from harm. Allow God to enlarge your territory by being available to go places you have never gone and meet people you have never met. It may involve a short-term mission trip overseas or simply a walk across the street to meet the neighbor you don’t know.

Are you willing to place your “yes” on the altar? Say to the Lord, “I’m yours! Use me!” Don’t put conditions on God. Make yourself completely available for God’s use in God’s timing for God’s glory.

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Have you weighed your words lately? Your words have the potential to crush or to mend. Your words have the power to destroy relationships or to restore relationships. Every word you speak matters to God. Every word you speak aloud or mutter under your breath is captured by God

• “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Eccl 5:2 (NIV)

• “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29 (NIV)

Give the Lord full control of your speech. May your words be pleasing to God. When you yield to His control, your communication within the home will be a blessing to your family. Your communication outside of the home will benefit others, too. Seek to please God and to build others up with your words.

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Communication is vital for the home and family to operate in a way that pleases God. Relationships deepen as communication strengthens. The more effective we are in communicating understanding and communicating love within our home, the more effective our witness for Christ will be. God magnifies the witness of the family that communicates effectively within the home. Your home becomes a testimony before the Lord.

When it comes to communication, how well do you listen? Are you intentional in listening empathetically and compassionately? Do you seek to understand and communicate that understanding?

• “Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Sam 3:10 (NIV)

• “He who answers before listening–that is his folly and his shame.” Prov 18:13 (NIV)

Let’s commit to be quick to listen. Remember, God has given us one mouth and two ears. What would happen if we intentionally listen twice as much as we speak? Our level of effective communication may very well increase. Thank God for the listening ears He has sprinkled throughout your life to help you along the way. People who came alongside you with a compassionate ear are worthy of your thanksgiving. Now be that kind of person in the lives of others for the glory of God. Start with your family and become a good listener. 

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of your family is? Have you discovered why you exist? God wants your family to maintain a vertical orientation. You exist to please God. In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul reminded the church family that their goal was to please God. Are you a God pleaser?

The enemy assaults the family. You have to fight for your family and you have to guard your passion to please God. You will have to combat the attempts the enemy makes to diffuse your focus on pleasing God. You have a choice to make. Joshua faced the onslaught of attacks which sought to erode the commitment to God embraced by the children of Israel. On behalf of his family, Joshua made the right choice.

• “‘But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’” Josh 24:15 (NIV)

Will you lead the way for your family to please God? Will you make the bold commitment to serve the Lord? Let me encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay vertical! 

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

God designed the family and God defines the family. The family business is God’s business. God created Adam and Eve in His image. God created them for His pleasure. He blessed them and commanded them to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:28). Their assignment was to love God, to love each other, and to be fruitful and increase in number.

What comes to your mind when you think of the word, family? You may have warm feelings of special memories that where made in the context of a loving environment. Perhaps the concept of family for you may surface feelings that are less desirable due to neglect or fractured relationships. Think about your current reality. What does your current family scenario look like?

God has a plan for you and for your family. His plan includes your need for loving relationships. God’s desire is that you know Him personally and then express His love within your family and to a lost world. 

**Current devotions are from Dr. Trammell’s new devotional book available from Auxano Press **