If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been interrupted mid-thought, mid-sentence, or mid-bite of something delicious, I could probably buy a small island by now. Motherhood and marriage both have a way of pulling us in every direction at once, and let’s be honest—some days, seeking God’s kingdom first feels like one more thing on an already overwhelming to-do list. But Matthew 6:33 doesn’t say, “Seek the kingdom when you’ve had enough sleep and the kids aren’t screaming.” Nope, it simply says:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
That’s a big promise. And if there’s anything I need as a mom and a wife, it’s for “all these things”—wisdom, patience, peace, provision—to be added to me. Because some days, I feel like I’m running on fumes, handing out snacks like a vending machine while my husband and I tag-team pick ups and drop offs like we’re training for the parenting Olympics. And now that my girls are all teenagers? Let’s just say the snack requests have been replaced with emotional rollercoasters, deep discussions at inconvenient hours, and the occasional “Mom, I have nothing to wear!” meltdown five minutes before we need to leave.
So how do we actually seek the kingdom first in the middle of the chaos?
Invite God into the Little Moments
When I first became a mom, I thought “seeking first the kingdom” meant spending an hour in deep Bible study every morning while sipping a cup of perfectly hot tea. That fantasy lasted about three days before real life hit. If I waited for perfect quiet to spend time with God, I’d never do it. So, I learned to invite Him into the little moments instead.
- Whispering a prayer while rocking a baby back to sleep.
- Playing worship music while doing dishes (because there are always dishes).
- Asking for wisdom when my teenager throws me a curveball question I wasn’t prepared for.
- Choosing gratitude instead of frustration when my husband forgets to take out the trash again (still working on this one!).
- Breathing deep and asking for divine patience when teen attitudes hit like a sudden thunderstorm.
It turns out, God isn’t waiting for us to have uninterrupted “prayer” time. He meets us right in the middle of the clutter all over the kitchen counter, the text messages that start with “MOM” and the never-ending grocery lists, dishes and laundry.
Start with Your Mindset
I don’t know about you, but my brain never stops. It’s a constant cycle of meal planning, calendar checking, and remembering that it’s “Pajama Day” at school five minutes before we walk out the door. And when I let stress run the show, it’s easy to start thinking like I’m the one responsible for holding everything together.
Seeking first the kingdom means flipping that thinking. Instead of waking up and immediately launching into survival mode, it’s waking up and remembering: God is in control.
- Instead of worrying about finances, I remind myself that He is my provider.
- Instead of stressing over my kids’ futures, I trust that He loves them even more than I do.
- Instead of trying to fix everything in my marriage, I surrender it to Him first.
- Instead of feeling personally offended when my teen gives me the look (you know the one), I pray for wisdom before reacting.
When I keep my mind on Him, everything else starts to feel a little less overwhelming.
Put Your Marriage in Its Rightful Place
Motherhood has a way of making everything else feel secondary—including marriage. When you’re exhausted and touched out from little hands clinging to you all day, the idea of prioritizing your husband can feel like just another demand. And now, with teens in the house? Some days, by the time we sit down together, my emotional energy is already spent navigating teenage drama, pep talks, and deciphering texts that apparently require an advanced degree in Gen Z communication.
But here’s the thing: our marriages are meant to reflect Christ’s love. And the best thing we can do for our kids is show them what it looks like when two people love each other the way God intended.
Seeking first the kingdom means making sure our marriages don’t get stuck on the back burner.
- Praying for our husbands instead of just praying about them (yes, there’s a difference!).
- Making time to connect—even if it’s just 10 minutes of real conversation after the kids are asleep.
- Choosing grace over grumbling when we feel unseen or unappreciated.
When we put our marriages under God’s order, everything else runs a little smoother. And let’s be real—when mom and dad are in sync, the whole house feels more peaceful.
Teach Your Kids by Living It
We can talk all day about faith, but our kids learn most by watching us live it. When they see us seeking the kingdom first—not just in the easy moments, but in the stressful, messy, real-life ones—it sticks with them.
- When they see us choosing to trust God instead of panicking? They learn peace.
- When they see us praying instead of complaining? They learn dependence on Him.
- When they see us serving others joyfully? They learn what love in action looks like.
- When they see us not losing our minds when teenage mood swings hit? They learn what grace looks like in real time.
I used to think I had to have all the answers and be a perfect example of faith, but honestly? My kids need to see me rely on God, not pretend I’ve got it all figured out. The best thing we can do for their spiritual growth is show them that seeking first the kingdom isn’t about being perfect—it’s about choosing Him daily.
Trust That He’s Got It All Covered
The last part of Matthew 6:33 is the kicker: “…and all these things will be added to you.”
God isn’t asking us to seek Him first so that everything falls apart around us. He’s asking us to seek Him first because He’s the one who holds it all together.
The laundry pile? It’ll get done eventually. The never-ending mom guilt? He’s bigger than that. The worries about our kids, our marriages, our futures? He sees it all, and He’s already making a way.
If you’re ready to cover your home in protection and invite the Holy Spirit in, here’s a guide on how to anoint oil and consecrate your home in prayer.
So today, let’s breathe deep. Let’s whisper that quick prayer, turn our hearts toward Him, and trust that when we seek Him first, He takes care of the rest.
And maybe—just maybe—let’s drink our tea while it’s still hot.
What’s one small way you’re choosing to seek the kingdom first today? Let’s encourage each other in the comments!
Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, & Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!
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