Becoming Before Doing: Seeking God First in Personal Growth
A Matthew 6:33 New Year Series
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
By the end of January, many people quietly reassess the goals they set with enthusiasm just weeks earlier. Motivation may have faded, routines feel demanding, and the desire for change begins to wrestle with discouragement. Often, this struggle reveals something important: lasting change is rarely about willpower alone. Scripture teaches that true growth begins not with external effort, but with inner transformation.
This article continues our New Year series rooted in Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Throughout this month, we are exploring how seeking God first shapes the most significant areas of daily life, helping us move beyond surface-level resolutions toward God-centered priorities that guide our decisions, habits, and growth throughout the year.
Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 6:33 calls us to seek God first, not only in what we pursue, but in who we are becoming. Personal growth, from a biblical perspective, is less about self-improvement and more about spiritual formation.
The Difference Between Self-Improvement and Transformation
The world emphasizes improvement, doing more, achieving faster, and becoming better through effort and discipline alone. While discipline has value, Scripture points to a deeper work. Romans 12:2, written to believers navigating pressure to conform to cultural values, reminds us that transformation begins in the mind. Growth flows from renewal, not performance.
Self-improvement focuses on behavior modification. Spiritual transformation focuses on heart alignment. When God is sought first, He reshapes desires, motivations, and perspectives from the inside out.
God Is More Concerned with Who We Are Becoming
Personal growth in Scripture is closely tied to character. Paul reminds the church, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13, NKJV). This truth shifts the weight of growth off human striving and onto divine partnership.
God is not merely interested in productivity or visible success. He is developing qualities of humility, patience, faith, and love that endure beyond circumstances. Seeking God first allows us to cooperate with His work rather than rush ahead of it.
Inviting God into the Inner Life
Seeking God first in personal growth means inviting Him into the unseen places of our thoughts, attitudes, habits, and emotional patterns. David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties” (Psalm 139:23, NKJV). Written from a place of humility, this prayer reveals a willingness to be shaped by God rather than to defend oneself.
Growth often begins with awareness. God gently reveals areas that need healing, surrender, or refinement, not to condemn, but to restore. This process requires patience and honesty, both with God and ourselves.
Setting Growth Goals Rooted in Character
When seeking God first, personal development goals move beyond external metrics and focus on inward fruit. Scripture offers a clear framework in the fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23, NKJV). Written to contrast life led by the flesh with life led by the Spirit, this passage reveals what Spirit-formed growth looks like.
Practical growth goals may include:
Cultivating patience in daily interactions
Growing in trust during uncertainty
Practicing forgiveness and humility
Developing consistency in prayer and Scripture
These goals are not achieved overnight. They are nurtured through daily surrender and reliance on God’s grace.
Growth Requires Time and Grace
One of the greatest obstacles to personal growth is impatience. We want change quickly, forgetting that God often works slowly and deeply. Scripture reassures us, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NKJV). Written to encourage believers facing challenges, this promise affirms that growth is God’s responsibility as much as ours.
Seeking God first means trusting Him with the timeline. Some lessons take seasons to form. Some changes unfold quietly. Faithfulness in the process matters more than visible progress.
Living from Identity, Not Pressure
When personal growth is driven by pressure, it leads to exhaustion. When it flows from identity in Christ, it produces freedom. Scripture reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). Growth is not about becoming someone else—it is about living into who God has already made us to be.
As we seek God first, we grow not to earn His approval, but because we already have it.
As this New Year series comes to a close, we return to the simple yet challenging invitation of Matthew 6:33 to seek God first. Over these weeks, we have reflected on how this priority shapes our plans, work, health, and personal growth. The goal has never been perfection or performance, but alignment, allowing God to order our lives from the inside out. Seeking Him first is not a January practice alone, but a daily posture that sustains faith, brings clarity, and anchors us throughout the year ahead.
A Final Reflection for the Month
As January comes to a close, consider the journey you have begun. Seeking God first is not a one-time decision; it is a daily posture. Whether in work, health, or personal growth, God invites us to walk with Him, trusting that He is shaping every step.
If you desire continued encouragement in spiritual growth and purposeful living, you are warmly invited to subscribe to the EXCEL2FAITH Newsletter, where faith and everyday life meet with clarity and grace.
Fill-in-the-Blank Reflection
Purpose: Encourages Scripture memorization and reflection on the heart of the message.
Time: 2–3 minutes
Title: “Seek First – A Scripture Reflection Challenge”
Complete the verse below from Matthew 6:33 (NKJV):
“But seek ______ the ______ of God and His ________, and all these things shall be ______ to you.”
(Answers: first, kingdom, righteousness, added)
Challenge Question:
In one sentence, write what “seeking God first” means to you today.
🕊️ Take a moment to pray over your answer, asking God to help you live from “being” before “doing.”
Few books have impacted modern Christian living like The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren—a timeless guide that helps readers discover why they were created and how to live with God-centered intention. Warren beautifully reminds us that life’s true meaning doesn’t begin with self, but with God, echoing the same truth we explored in “Becoming Before Doing: Seeking God First in Personal Growth.” This book challenges us to look beyond our personal ambitions and to embrace the deeper, spiritual purpose that God designed uniquely for each of us.
With warmth and clarity, Warren walks us through forty transformative days of reflection, Scripture, and practical application. Each chapter invites you to shift from striving toward surrender, from doing to becoming—the very heartbeat of seeking God first. Whether you are beginning a new season or renewing your spiritual focus, The Purpose Driven Life will guide you toward a life anchored in eternal significance rather than temporary success.
I’m recommending this book this month because it beautifully complements our Matthew 6:33 series. I’ve read it many times, shared it with friends, and believe it’s foundational for your faith journey this new year. Purchase your copy today and subscribe to the EXCEL2FAITH Newsletter for continued encouragement and spiritual growth.
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us to seek You first above all else and for reminding us that true growth begins in Your presence, not in our own strength. Renew our hearts and minds so that our desires align with Yours, and help us to become more like Christ in every thought, word, and action. Teach us to rest in Your timing, to trust Your process, and to welcome the quiet work You are doing within us. May our lives reflect Your love, and our hearts stay ever drawn to the beauty of knowing You more each day.