Lord may you be
my first line of defense
against the wicked ways of the world
that I may not fall into the trap
of pride
fear
anger
or appetite
tools that the devil uses
to draw me into hell
may I inquire of you first
and always
may I seek to know your will
to embody your love
grace
forgiveness
that my life may a ray of your light
unto this broken world
so filled with darkness
~Robert Van Valkenburgh
Reflection: God asks for our first fruits. For the Jewish people, this meant reserving the first part of the harvest as an offering to the Lord, sacrificing firstborn animals at the altar in the temple, and dedicating their firstborn sons to God. This is an act of trust. Essentially, God said to His people, “Come to me first in all things, and I will provide for you.” By setting aside and offering their first crops, firstborn animals, and even firstborn sons to the Lord, they demonstrated that they believed in Him and His Word to them. In return, He guided them, protected them, and even fought for them.
But giving our first fruits to God means giving God more than just physical things. He wants us. He wants our time, our attention, and our love. He wants our lives. He wants us to come to Him first in all things, to be utterly dependent on Him, to have absolute faith in Him, and to love Him unwaveringly as He loves us. He wants this, not for His own sake, but so that He can provide all things for us.
So when we forget or refuse to give God our first fruits, when we fail to start our day in prayer, to inquire from Him when we are doubtful, or to return to Him when we have strayed from His care, we risk repeating the mistakes of Adam and Eve, Cain, Aaron, Saul, King David, or Israel herself, who, whether out of defiance, fear, anger, greed, lack of trust, impatience, or unabated appetite, turned their backs on the Lord who loved them, making way for evil in their hearts and lives.
As Christians, however, we have the example of Jesus who, in the face of temptation, betrayal, persecution, and even death, never turned away from the will of the Father. May we, like Jesus, turn to the Father of Light in all things that we may be rays of that light in the lives of others. Even when our cup is filled with suffering, may we turn to the Lord for strength, guidance, and wisdom, and say, “Yet not what I want, but what you want.”
Question for meditation: Where in my life do I forget or refuse to inquire first of the Lord, and instead react from a place of pride, fear, anger, or appetite, believing that my feelings are more important than my prayers?
Scripture: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7 (ESV)
Further Reading: If you found truth and value in this reflection, you may also enjoy: Lectio: We Do Not Know — a meditation on trusting the Spirit when we don’t know what to pray for, reminding us that the Spirit intercedes for us in weakness. Read Lectio: We Do Not Know on Grappling With Divinity
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