Freely Speaking - Devotional by Andi Benson

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotional was written by Andi Benson and narrated by Sharee Gaiser.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Our calendars are packed, our camera rolls are full, and our minds are constantly buzzing with a never-ending mental to-do list. As women, we are professional space-fillers. We fill the gaps for our families, our jobs, and our communities. But in the quiet moments, we often realize our souls are running on empty because we haven’t left any room for the One who sustains us.

Jesus spoke directly to this frantic pace in Matthew 6:33:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Notice that He doesn't say to seek God after the laundry is folded, the emails are answered, and the kids are asleep. He says first.

Making space for God isn’t about adding another grueling task to your planner; it’s about a posture of the heart. It means intentionally carving out a few undistracted moments before the world demands your attention. It’s choosing to open your Bible before you open social media. It's whispering a prayer of surrender while driving to work or folding that third load of laundry. 

I have learned that putting God first requires intention. I need to shape my environment for success by keeping Scripture and reminders where I will see them, setting prompts on my phone, placing sticky notes around me, rising before everyone else when I can, and silencing my phone. If I do not purposefully direct my steps, the enemy will quickly pull my attention away.

When we give God the first fruits of our time and attention, something beautiful happens to our perspective. The anxieties that felt overwhelming begin to shrink, and the things we worry about fall into their proper place. We realize that we don't have to carry the weight of the world because He is already holding it.

Today, look at your schedule and ask yourself: Where can I create a holy pause? Give Him your first waking moments and watch how He fills the rest of your day with His peace.

Thank you for joining us today. To learn more about OhSoFree Ministries and Gracelight Collective, please visit us at www.gracelightcollective.org