Keeping God First

 Lately, it feels like people are so focused on politics that they start to forget about God. Everywhere you go, people can make their political views such a big part of who they are. Even some Christians can get caught up in this and slowly push God out of the center of their lives, and they don’t even realize that this is what they are doing. 

 

But God reminds us that He should always come first in our hearts. We’re not meant to stay focused on the things of this world so much that we lose sight of Him. 

 

This is why God tells us to keep Him first in everything we do. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” This verse is reminding us that when we focus on God first, He takes care of the rest. It helps us remember not to let anything—like stress or opinions or even politics—take His place in our hearts.

 

Another reminder of this is Philippians 3:20 (NLT), which says, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” This verse helps us understand that our true home is not here on earth. We belong to God’s kingdom first, so while we live here, our hearts should stay anchored in Him more than anything happening around us.

This goes along with what God says in Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT): “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” This verse is helping us understand where our attention should go. It’s not saying we ignore life on earth, but that we don’t let it take over our thoughts or shape how we see everything. Our focus is meant to stay higher than that.

Of course, it’s normal to care about what’s happening in the world around us. But we have to be careful not to let those things take over our thoughts or pull us away from God. We can be aware of what’s happening, but still keep God first. 

In the end, God should always have the first place in our lives. No matter what is happening in government or in the world, we can give our worries to Him and trust Him with everything. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Keeping God First”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Listening When God Speaks Inside

 Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

This verse shows us that God’s Word isn’t just something we read—it actually reaches deep inside of us. It sees what we’re thinking and even what we’re feeling, even the things we try to hide. It checks our hearts in a way that we can’t ignore.

Do you ever get that feeling in your heart when you do something you know God isn’t pleased with? It’s like a quiet check on the inside that won’t let you feel comfortable. That feeling is called conviction—it’s the Holy Spirit letting us know we did something that doesn’t line up with the example of Jesus Christ.

Romans 2 is Paul talking about how God is fair when He judges people. He explains that even if someone doesn’t know all of God’s written law, there is still something inside every person that helps them recognize right from wrong. That inner awareness is what we call a conscience.

Romans 2:15 (NLT) says, “They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.”

This verse shows us that God has placed a conscience inside of us, and it helps us recognize right from wrong. When we belong to God, the Holy Spirit uses that conscience to gently guide and correct us. Conviction isn’t meant to shame us—it’s meant to bring us back into alignment with God. 

When we feel conviction, it’s important that we don’t ignore it. If we do, we can slowly start to distance ourselves from God without even realizing it. It’s like hearing God gently tell us to stop or change something, but choosing to push it aside. The only difference is that it happens quietly on the inside.

So when conviction comes, we should listen. We should let God help us let go of sinful habits and things that pull us away from Him. This is one of the important ways He helps us stay close to Him and continue to grow in knowing what is right and what is wrong. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Listening When God Speaks Inside”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Listening When God Speaks Inside

 Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”This verse shows us that God’s Word isn’t just something we read—it actually reaches deep inside of us. It sees what we’re thinking and even what we’re feeling, even the things we try to hide. It checks our hearts in a way that we can’t ignore.

Do you ever get that feeling in your heart when you do something you know God isn’t pleased with? It’s like a quiet check on the inside that won’t let you feel comfortable. That feeling is called conviction—it’s the Holy Spirit letting us know we did something that doesn’t line up with the example of Jesus Christ.

Romans 2 is Paul talking about how God is fair when He judges people. He explains that even if someone doesn’t know all of God’s written law, there is still something inside every person that helps them recognize right from wrong. That inner awareness is what we call a conscience.

Romans 2:15 (NLT) says, “They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.”This verse shows us that God has placed a conscience inside of us, and it helps us recognize right from wrong. When we belong to God, the Holy Spirit uses that conscience to gently guide and correct us. Conviction isn’t meant to shame us—it’s meant to bring us back into alignment with God. 

When we feel conviction, it’s important that we don’t ignore it. If we do, we can slowly start to distance ourselves from God without even realizing it. It’s like hearing God gently tell us to stop or change something, but choosing to push it aside. The only difference is that it happens quietly on the inside.

So when conviction comes, we should listen. We should let God help us let go of sinful habits and things that pull us away from Him. This is one of the important ways He helps us stay close to Him and continue to grow in knowing what is right and what is wrong. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Listening When God Speaks Inside”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Learning How to Navigate Self-Doubt

 

We’ve all doubted ourselves before. It’s a normal feeling, but we can’t get comfortable staying there—we have to learn how to move through that uncertainty. God doesn’t want us walking around without confidence, because He’s given us a precious gift: the Holy Spirit.

 

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT), “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” That means the fear and doubt we feel is not coming from God. He’s already given us power, love, and the ability to steady ourselves through the Holy Spirit.

So when those thoughts start telling you that you’re not good enough, or that you’re going to fail, you don’t have to agree with them. You can talk to God right in that moment. You can pray, trust Him, and let Him help you think differently. It’s like when you feel unsure about a test—you might think you did bad, but instead of staying in that doubt, you pray, trust God, and leave it in His hands.

God is always ready for us to lean on Him. When we start to feel unsure, that’s our moment to go to Him and let Him build our confidence back up.

So whenever we start to feel unsure about ourselves or lose confidence, we should talk to God and bring it to Him. We don’t have to carry those thoughts by ourselves. The Bible says in Psalm 55:22 (NLT), “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.” God is always ready for us to lean on Him, especially in those moments when we feel the most unsure. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Learning How to Navigate Self-Doubt”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Before You Judge

 These days, people judge each other over the smallest things, especially on social media. It happens all the time. And even as Christians who know God’s Word, we can still catch ourselves having judgmental thoughts about what other people are doing. We might feel like we’re right because we know better—but just knowing the truth doesn’t mean we should say everything that comes to our mind. Yes, we should always go to God and share His truth, but we have to be careful in how we approach people and what we say to them.

In Matthew 7:1-3 (NLT) Jesus Christ said, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?”

This verse is a reminder that we shouldn’t judge others with a standard that’s bigger than the one that we hold for ourselves. We make mistakes too, and we have areas we’re still working on as well. So it’s not fair to point fingers at someone else, and that’s not what Jesus wants. It’s like trying to measure someone else’s life with a ruler that doesn’t even fit our own life. God wants us to check our own hearts first before we comment on anyone else.

Think about it like this: imagine you’re at school and you see a classmate gossiping or saying mean stuff about people online. Instead of praying for them or talking to them nicely, you roll your eyes, make a comment, or tell others how “wrong” this person is for doing things like this. But maybe you’ve said hurtful things too, before you really knew God’s way. Judging them like that doesn’t help—they might feel embarrassed, alone, or even think that all Christians do is judge others. God wants us to show love first, not make someone feel worse about their mistakes.

Judging someone like that can even push them farther away from God instead of helping them.  God calls us to do things in a different way. We can still care about what’s right and wrong, but we need to handle it with love and respect. 

Sometimes the best thing we can do is just pray for that person, ask God to guide them, and let Him work in their heart. He knows what is best for them. Showing patience and kindness is powerful. It’s one of the ways people see God’s love through us.  

God sees how we treat people, especially those who don’t know Him yet. He notices whether we respond to them with love or with judgment, and He wants us to choose the right way and respond with His love. When we see someone doing something wrong, we don’t need to talk down to them or make them feel small. Instead, we can choose to be kind and show respect. We can even help guide them in the right direction, but only if they want us to. And if that’s not possible, we can quietly pray for them. Being careful with our words and our thoughts is important—because how we treat others can either point them to God or push them away. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Before You Judge”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Becoming More Like Him

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

When we first accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, something real happens inside of us. We’re not the same anymore, even if everything around us still looks the same. The way we used to think, act, and respond starts to change over time.

It doesn’t mean we become perfect right away. It just means we can’t stay the same.

Ephesians 4:22–24 (NLT) tells us, “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” This reminds us that we have a choice. We can either keep doing things the old way, or we can let God help us grow into something new.

And honestly, becoming more like Him is such a great thing for us. We start to feel more peaceful inside. We don’t get as pulled into things that hurt us or lead us the wrong way. We begin to understand who God has made us in Jesus Christ, and that makes us stronger and more confident in a good way.

Being more like Him doesn’t happen all at once. It happens little by little, as we spend time with God—talking to Him, praying, and learning His Word. The more we stay close to Him, the more we start to look like Him, not on the outside, but in our heart.

And that’s what God really wants. Not just for us to say we love Him, but for our lives to actually start showing it.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Becoming More Like Him”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Making Time in Your Day for God

 

Our schedules can get really busy during the week—between school, activities, and everything else going on. And honestly, sometimes we just feel tired and want to rest. But even in the middle of all that, we still need to make time for God in our everyday lives. If we only focus on work, school, and relaxing, and never pause to be with God, little by little we start pushing Him out without even realizing it.

 The Bible even tells us how important this is. In Joshua 1:8 (NLT), it says, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” This shows us that God wants us to stay in His Word daily—not just once in a while. When we read and study His Word  the way He tells us, it becomes a part of us and helps guide how we live.

 

Another scripture reminds us to be careful with how we spend our time. Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV) says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” We also have to remember that we have an enemy who wants to pull us away from God’s plan for our lives. This verse shows us that we have to actually choose to spend time with God and not just let the whole day go by without thinking about Him.

 

When we spend time in prayer and read our Heavenly Father’s Word, it will help us stay close to Him. It helps us to grow stronger spiritually and to recognize what the enemy is trying to do, so we can be wise and not fall into it.

 

As someone who is still in school, I get tired after a long day, and sometimes I just want to go home and relax. But I try to make it a priority to talk to God throughout my day. I also read a chapter of the Bible on the bus before and after school. This small effort shows God that I care about spending time with Him and growing in my relationship with Him. It may not seem like a lot, but these little moments really do matter.

 

In the end, every day we should always make time for God, whether it’s through prayer, fasting, or reading His Word. Even small moments matter more than we think. We just have to remember that God is always there, waiting for us to talk to Him. He truly loves us, and He wants to spend time with us. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Making Time in Your Day for God”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!