Seek, Submit, Stand
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Matthew 6:33 is one of Jesus’ most clarifying statements about what life is meant to revolve around. In a world full of competing priorities, this verse calls us back to a single, steady center. Below are three movements of devotion—each beginning with S—that help us live out this command.
1. Seek His Kingdom
Seeking is active, intentional, and persistent. Jesus doesn’t say “notice” the kingdom or “occasionally think about” the kingdom. He says seek it—make it the pursuit that shapes every other pursuit. Seeking God’s kingdom means aligning your desires with His. It means letting His Word shape your worldview. It means asking daily, “What does God want in this moment? When we seek Him first, everything else finds its proper place.
A hiker once got turned around deep in a national forest. The trees looked the same in every direction, and every path seemed promising. But he had one tool that never lied: his compass. No matter how confused he felt, the compass pointed him toward true north. Seeking God’s kingdom is like checking the compass before taking a step. Life offers countless paths—career, relationships, ambitions—but only one direction is “true.” When we seek God first, we stop wandering in circles and start walking with purpose.
2. Submit to His Righteousness
Jesus pairs the kingdom with His righteousness—not our version of goodness, not cultural morality, but God’s own standard. Submission isn’t passive; it’s a willing surrender of control. We submit by obeying His teachings even when they challenge us. We submit by letting the Holy Spirit correct, convict, and transform us. We submit by trusting that God’s way is better than our way. Righteousness isn’t something we achieve; it’s something we receive and then reflect.
A potter shapes clay with steady hands, but the clay must stay centered on the wheel. If it resists or shifts off-center, the vessel becomes warped. But when the clay yields to the potter’s touch, something beautiful emerges.
3. Stand in His Provision
The promise at the end of the verse is not an afterthought—it’s a reassurance. When we seek and submit, we can stand confidently in God’s faithful provision.
We stand in trust instead of striving.
We stand in gratitude instead of fear of lack.
At a crowded parade, a small child couldn’t see anything but legs and elbows. She tugged on her father’s sleeve, and he lifted her onto his shoulders. Suddenly, she had the best view in the crowd. Nothing about the parade changed—only her position did.
Standing in God’s provision is like sitting on the Father’s shoulders. The circumstances may not shift immediately, but our perspective does. When we trust His provision, we rise above fear, anxiety, and scarcity, seeing life from a higher vantage point.
Closing Reflection
Matthew 6:33 invites us into a reordered life—a life where God is not an accessory but the anchor. As you move through your day, let these three words guide you:
Seek. Submit. Stand.They form a rhythm of trust that leads to a life marked by peace, purpose, and the steady presence of God.