What is "First and Best?"

 The idea for "First and Best" came from a thought the Lord gave me in early 2023 as I was driving to the office one morning. What I heard Him say was this, "Todd, please tell the people I've sent to you that I deeply and desperately want to be in a relationship with them and that I want the "First and Best" of their time every day. Not their leftovers, but their "First and Best" every day. And Todd, if they do this, I will move in their lives and marriage and transform them!"

Why would He say this to me? I believe scripture is clear that the Lord created mankind to be in relationship with Him and He desperately desires to be in a deep and meaningful relationship with us, His creation. God is a personal Being, and it gives Him pleasure to have other beings He can have a genuine relationship with. See Revelation 4:11, Colossians 1:16, Genesis 1:27, John 15:14-15.

Any parent of grown, adult, kids knows this feeling! Jodi and I ache when we don't see our kids and their families for extended periods of time. If we feel this way about mortal, flesh and blood relationships, just imagine how much more God aches to be in relationship with us?

So what does this look like practically speaking?

 Giving the Lord our "First and Best" each day means prioritizing our relationship with Him above everything else, setting aside the initial part of our day to engage with Him through devotion, prayer, and reflection. This practice acknowledges God's place as supreme in our lives and expresses our gratitude for His continual presence, guidance, and love. When we give God the first moments of our day, we're choosing to align our hearts and minds with His purposes, inviting His wisdom and peace to guide our decisions, attitudes, and actions.

Starting the day with Him reflects a conscious commitment to not only seek His will but also to trust in His provision, regardless of what the day might bring. This act of surrender demonstrates that we value God above our daily concerns and responsibilities. The "best" refers to our willingness to be fully present, attentive, and open to the Spirit’s leading, free from distractions or the residue of the day's later demands.

Biblically, giving our “First and Best” is a principle rooted in offerings, such as in Proverbs 3:9, which teaches, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." While this verse addresses material resources, the underlying principle can apply to time and focus. By dedicating our initial thoughts, energies, and quietness to God, we are essentially offering Him the "firstfruits" of our day, symbolizing trust, reverence, and devotion. This daily habit can reshape our outlook, strengthen our resilience, and continually remind us of God's faithfulness, equipping us to reflect His love and wisdom in every interaction and responsibility we encounter throughout the day.

If you can get into a daily rhythm of doing this over the course of your marriage, you will be investing in your marriage like no other way! You will continue to lay a solid foundation which will carry you the distance of ‘til death do you part!!