“for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”‬‬

As a teenager, peace and a long life were not issues I considered often. Prosperity was basically a tank of gas and burger money. Today, all three are regularly creeping into my thoughts. It is logical that as I age, I find these issues a bit more pressing. It would have served me well to have understood this truth better at a much younger age. However, God knows that. He is not in the business of punishing us for youthful thinking. To clarify, He knows that maturity in all areas of life comes with age, and He expects us to mature as we grow. The real tragedy is that too often, maturity is avoided in exchange for ignorant pleasure pursuits. Making a list of where I spend my time has never been a favorite habit of mine. There is currently a political struggle raging around the practice. Spiritually, it can be valuable to occasionally record or even journal your daily activities for a period of time. When I have done this, I see things that I would never state as priorities in my life but consume enough time that they are lived as priorities. At that point, I either cut back on them or adjust my reality to make them a priority. Solomon tells us here and in multiple places that God’s commands and teachings offer the best long- and short-term outcomes and need to have the highest priority in our lives. If you desire a long life filled with peace and prosperity, He alone has the formula. Today, make Him number one in your daily journey. #BeTheEdge

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus