Seek Thou First the Kingdom of God

This morning, I had the final for Plant Propagation class. A month ago the mid-term snuck up on me and I didn't study as much as I should have and unfortunately it showed in my grade. I didn't do terribly, but I definitely struggled with some of the questions. I was not going to do that again.

Yesterday between classes I went to the class website and pulled up each week's study questions that the teacher posts online going over that weeks material. I also pulled up all of my notes for the quarter to review and started into it. I got through about 3 1/2 weeks and then had to go to class. Then after class I went to the temple on an Initiatory assignment. It was great. Then I studied a little bit before I went to sleep that night (at 11, cause I'm trying to go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier). I planned on getting up this morning, showering and then reviewing it all a second time. This quarter I have been regularly working evenings and it is not unusual for me to get home around 11, get ready for bed, read a book for a bit, and then go to sleep. Because of this schedule, and because I am no good at staying up to do homework, I have gotten into the habit of finishing homework in the mornings before I leave for school. Unfortunately, during breakfast is the time I have set aside for studying the scriptures. This morning as I was getting my materials together to study and cereal in a bowl to consume, I thought, "I don't think I'll have time to read scriptures this morning. Which really is too bad, because I have been missing morning reading quite a bit recently." Then I remembered the scripture I had read last week, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you." That scripture had struck me when I first read it. I remembered feeling that if I made my callings and responsibilities to God a priority, He would ensure my ability to accomplish all other things pertinent in my life, even if I didn't have the time to get to them. They would be ADDED unto ME. I decided that I was going to first seek the kingdom of God and I knelt down and prayed that I would remember the things that I had studied yesterday, and that I would be able to focus on the scriptures as I studied them, and that I would WANT to seek the kingdom of God first, because I couldn't help but think about how I really wanted to study in order to feel more confident about the final. Then as I ate breakfast, I started back into the Gospel of Luke. It was wonderful. I was reading about parables and read through about 3 chapters. By the time I finished, it was time to pack my bag and head off to school.

I got to class in time to sit down and pull out my notes for 5 more minutes of review. When my teacher passed out the final and notes went away, I ate my way through the final like I had never seen paper before, and really wanted to know what it would feel like in my digestive track. I felt really good about it all when I finished, and didn't blank on anything. It was wonderful. I don't know how I did, but I think it is safe to assume I passed the class.

It was one of those small things that probably won't drastically change my life, but will definitely help me when it comes down to putting the Lord before everything else in my life. Is it really that important to say family prayer morning and night, even if you have to wake other people up for it? Is it important to make time to have family home evening, even if you guys do spiritual stuff together all the time? Is it important to make temple attendance a priority even if you get out about once a month just fine? Yes. Yes to it all. And if ye do, all things shall be added unto you. Opening the windows of heaven and all that.