From Mirror to Messiah: Seeking First His Kingdom

Written by: Morgan Leary

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..." Matthew 6:33a

While in the thick of a pruning season, (which, it took me some time to realize that’s what I was and still am in), it dawned on me how stuck I had been feeling in it, instead of simply surrendering to it. I had given my heart to Jesus, but my flesh remained wrapped up in the world. God was shaping me, but I was focused on my shape. I was critiquing my reflection in the mirror.

 When I should have been mirroring Jesus.

Pruning seasons or not, we all get stuck on the hamster wheel of the world at some point. What if the answer for when we feel stuck is to SEEK instead? What would it look like to have a biblical mindset towards all areas of our lives? Specifically eating, fitness, beauty, and relationships? 

What if we treat our bodies with tender love and care as well as respect as we know they were created in His image?

What if we don’t  stuff our faces with food that didn’t come from His hand, but rather rejoice in the sweetness of His fruits? We gather around the table, not to be fed by food, but by the Word. We invite Jesus to the table and we’re thankful for whatever is in front of us with little regard to calories or protein intake. We focus on serving one another. We don’t worry about what our next meal is because we know we will have all we need. 

What if when we become aware of how our bodies have changed, we first acknowledge our trust in the Lord and His transformation process for us? We seek His righteousness and do not dwell or obsess on our worldly image. If we’re holding weight that becomes far too heavy to carry on our own, we lay it down at His feet. We refuse to let our lack of happiness and dissatisfaction with our physique dismiss the King’s works of art in our lives. 

What if instead of feeling crushed by the weight of our bodies, we stop to imagine the weight of the cross on Jesus’ back?

What if we practice picking up our own cross and carrying it? We hold our sisters’ burdens instead of judging their sizes.  

What if instead of analyzing the depth of the wrinkle on our forehead we analyze the depth of our understanding of scripture. 

What if we repent for desiring worldly beauty and fitness over Kingdom living? What if we change our ways as to seek to glorify Him, not satisfy our egos? What if we let whatever that thing is bothering us about ourselves humble us instead of tear us down? What if we die to self’s desire, to be desirable to anyone other than our husbands? What if seek to hear ‘’well done’’ at Heaven’s gates instead of our next doctor appointment, personal training session, or Instagram post? What if when we look into the mirror instead of seeing an aging face we feel the Holy Spirit that’s within us and eternal? What if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness knowing that the rest of our needs and our heart’s true desires will be given to us as well? 

"...and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33b