At church a few weeks ago, the pastor spoke about some interesting things that I knew pertained to my life, especially in the area of me aligning my life more with God’s will. 

I learned that if you are continually putting yourself first, then it is inevitable that everyone else will always get in your way. 

For example, take something as simple as commuting to work.

In my daily experience, I find myself thinking about how tired I am each morning on the way to work and therefore want to be one of the first on the bus so that I can grab a seat. If I see someone bud in line, or take the seat I want, then I start feeling bitter or annoyed. That person has got in my way. 

When I was a kid, I would always want the biggest piece or to be the first in line. Now, that’s how it usually is with kids, but my point is that most of us grow up always wanting to be first, so it only makes sense we take that natural desire with us into our adult lives. 

If we’re always putting ourselves first, then we’re going to have more negative thoughts and feelings toward others than positive ones.  

Something else I learned, is that you can not truly love others if you are living for yourself. 

I believe true, unconditional love is the love God has for us, which is forgiving, kind, compassionate, and has put us first. 

So if I continue to live selfishly, always thinking, “What’s in it for me?”, then 1) someone is always going to get in my way, and I will be harbouring negative thoughts towards them, and 2) I will never be able to love unconditionally like I know I’ve been called to do. 

Unfortunately, none of this comes easy.  It’s just natural for me to think about myself first, and it’s the way of the world to put yourself first. 

I have to daily, centre my life around Jesus. 

He can make the natural, supernatural, and break the selfish tie I have with myself. 

If I centre my life around Him, then no one will ever get in my way!  And I can be free to love unconditionally .

This, is a life long goal.