Default

       About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and
     singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners
     were listening to them.
       ~ Acts 16:25


What is your default setting? When you’re in trouble, what do you do? When you’re in abundance, do you praise God? Maybe you will eventually. Maybe that’s your first instinct. I want turning to God to be my first instinct. I also want to follow the Holy Spirit to God.
Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for doing God’s work, and yet they stayed up into the night praying and singing hymns to God. They didn’t sleep or curse God or beg that He would let them out. They focused their strength on God, trusting that He would work this for good (Romans 8:28).
Seek God first just as Paul and Silas did (Matthew 6:33). You don’t need to know exactly what to do in every situation you encounter. You don’t even need to know every situation. All you need to know is that God is in control and He has promised to work in your situation for the good of those who love Him. Seek God. He will tell you what to do. He will provide for you both in your essentials and in your abundance. So turn to God.
The next time you’re faced with a tough circumstance or you’re tempted or you don’t know what is going on, see what you do. Ask God to bring this post back to your mind then. Is your first thought or action to rely on your strength and training? Is it to ask for help? Is it to turn to God? What do you end up doing? Ask God to bring your focus to Him so you will act according to His will, whatever that means in your situation.

Read further:
Acts 16:16-40; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:33