I noticed something about myself the other morning. Before I’d prayed a single word or opened my Bible, I’d already checked my phone, scrolled past a dozen stories, and let my mind run ahead into the day’s to-do list. God hadn’t gotten a moment of my attention before my day really started.

We live in a world that’s very good at getting to us first. Every day, something is competing for our attention. Our phones. Social media. Sports. Work. Money. Politics. Entertainment. Hobbies. Our kids. Our schedules.

None of those things are necessarily bad.

But even good things can become a problem when they begin taking the place that belongs to God.

Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

First.

That is the key.

God doesn’t want to be squeezed into whatever time we have left over. He doesn’t want to be the first thing we think about only when life falls apart. He wants to be first in our lives.

So maybe the question isn’t simply, “Do I believe in God?”

Maybe the better question is: “What gets my attention?”

Because what gets our attention eventually gets our time. And what gets our time often gets our heart.

Jesus didn’t say, “Seek my kingdom when you get around to it.” He said, “Seek first.”

Maybe today is a good day to take an honest look at what has been getting our attention and make sure God hasn’t been pushed to the back of the line.