O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E. Just the word ‘obedience’ sounds like a drag. And I bet it makes you think of giving up something you like, but know is not good for you. Or that you’ll be lacking in the fun area of life. Sure sounds like that to me!
Hold on a second! As a parent, don’t I want the best for my kids? Do I tell them not to play in the street because I don’t want them to have fun? OR do I give them rules and regulations to keep them safe from danger? Hmmm. Of course, I want them safe and I want nothing more than to hear their laughter and see wide smiles on their faces.
Ah ha!!! That is why God wants us to obey Him – I can be slow sometimes. Sigh.
God is a loving Father who wants the best for His children. He wants us happy, healthy, and to enjoy life. He wants us to be successful and have abundant blessings as we travel the journey we choose.
Choice is the key here. God did not create us to be a bunch of cattle stuck in a pen, never to explore or experience His creation. He made a HUGE playground (called the world), but He did set some ground rules for us to follow so that we will be safe along the way. And that would be where obedience comes into the picture!
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46
Doesn’t make sense, does it? We call on God’s help, but don’t listen to His Word. We go our own way and then get upset when things don’t turn out the way we planned. We get wrapped up in our own selfishness and turn away from the One who made us and knows the best path for us to take. And most importantly, we leave God out of the equation and wonder why we are so lost.
It’s hard to give up control. But wouldn’t it be better if we confess our failures and take a ‘do over?’ That’s what being obedient is about – saying no to being the person we used to be and saying yes to God, which allows Him to work His miracles in our lives.
Now, let’s be clear. God doesn’t promise us an easy road in the midst of all this joy from being obedient.
Think of it this way…can a parent promise their kids no pain in life even if they play by all of the rules? Of course not. However, a parent knows that their children will be much better off having followed the rules even when hardships come along because obedience builds one’s self-discipline and creates strength and courage from within the soul.
I have struggled immensely with obedience because sometimes I just want to do it my way!!! My immaturity in Christ has often left me feeling like a dagger filled with disobedient poison is stuck in my head and heart. To combat these overwhelming feelings I have found three things helpful:
- Pray for God’s desires to be my desires
- Read, read and read some more of God’s Word
- Ask God to change my heart so that I can LET GO of my control and give it to HIM
Do you battle with being obedient? How do you combat your own selfish desires that you know are wrong? I would love to hear from you!
Some Wisdom for Today: Proverbs 22:5 – In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
Meg, thanks for this one! I do have trouble obeying…sometimes out of “wanting what I want”, sometimes out of fear, sometimes out of acting impulsively without thinking. I guess I combat it with confession to Him. Your 3 points, I think, are right on! To compare with our kids again and apply those 3 points…if our children came and said, “Mommy, I want to do what you want, I’m listening, help me trust…” we would be blessed by that. Surely the Lord is too with those prayers.
You’ve got that right! We’d live such an awesome life if we lived in obedience to God. Glad you were blessed! Love ya!