We live in a world full of competing kingdoms. You may not see their flags flying or hear their anthems sung, but they’re real — and every person on earth lives under the influence of one of them.

The first is the kingdom of man. This is where most of us start. It’s the human attempt to build a life of control — to shape our world through power, money, or influence. There’s nothing inherently evil about hard work or success. But when we live solely for our own ambitions, we end up chasing a kingdom that can’t last. We fight to hold on to control that was never truly ours.

Then there’s the kingdom of Satan. Scripture says in 1 John 5:19, “The whole world is under the control of the evil one.” This kingdom thrives on deception, pride, and destruction. The enemy’s goal is to pull our hearts away from God — to convince us that our will is better than His. It’s subtle. It’s persuasive. And it always leads to bondage.

But then there’s a third kingdom — the Kingdom of God. This is the one Jesus came to establish. It’s not built on power or control but on surrender. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The Kingdom of God is the activity of God — what He is doing in the world and in our hearts right now.

And here’s what Jesus said about it: “Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).

That means our job as followers of Jesus isn’t to build our own little kingdoms. It’s to align our lives with His — to join in what God is doing. When we do, something powerful happens. We begin to experience:

• Freedom from fear. When you live under God’s rule, you don’t have to control every outcome.

• Peace in your soul. You stop striving and start trusting.

• Purpose in your life. You realize you’re part of something eternal.

This truth has changed my life: every day, I get to choose which kingdom I will live for. Will I live for mine? Will I fall for the enemy’s lies? Or will I surrender to the rule and reign of Christ?

When you live for the Kingdom of God, you find the life you’ve been looking for all along — a life of joy, peace, and divine purpose.

So today, take a moment to ask yourself: Which kingdom am I living for? Then choose to seek His kingdom above all else. It’s the only way to live.