Obedience

Obedience.

Things I think of when I hear that word: Being grounded, Elementary school, and a school a dog goes to when he is out of control.

Obedience is one of those words that you hear and you automatically think: “YES! THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!”


Negative.

It’s going to be work.

Wouldn’t it have been nice if when we were younger, “being obedient”, when with phrases like, “You WILL go to Disneyland”, “You WILL accept this raise on your allowance”, or “You WILL go on this shopping spree at the mall and buy whatever you want.”

Obedience in something that is definitely something that does not come as second nature, but something that is learned. I have learned the rawest form of Obedience in my obedience to the Lord. And as I currently face, probably the biggest test of obedience I ever have, I can confidently say, you learn more in this process than any other. I recently read this quote:

“Obeying God is difficulty in the world we live in, but we are so much better off by learning through obedience. What we don’t learn through obedience we will usually be taught the hard way to us through difficult experiences.”

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” –Ep. 6:1

SO TRUE! That is how it has been or whole life. Obeying God is a lot of the same principals as obeying your parents. Stay out past curfew, grounded for a week. Don’t follow God’s voice in your life, it’s like being spiritually grounded. Feeling stuck because you can’t move. But the truth is: You can’t.

Usually we experience the path of disobedience because we think it is better then what has already been planned for us. But let me ask you this: Is where you end up what you had planned originally? Usually not. When God asks us to go somewhere or to give something up, it is for a great good. Not just for his kingdom, but for OUR lives. God is a God who “gives and takes away.” And believe it or not, even in the “taking away” part, he has our best interest in mind.

Sometimes I need to remind myself of the fact that when I chose to follow the Lord, I chose to give him my life, my hands, and my feet. To go where he wants me to go, to do what he wants me to do, and to say what he wants me to say. People may not always understand that. Infact, most won’t. Because we as humans have become so inward focused, we sometimes think of how people’s choices are going to affect US, rather then what God is doing in their lives.

“Not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” –Ep 6:6

I want to be that person. I want to be that person that is being obedient, no matter what God is asking of me. And finally, I am learning how to be. It has taken God asking me how for one of the most important things in my life, but I KNOW it is for a great purpose. One even bigger then me. And although I may not see the benefits of it today and although it may be hard tomorrow, I know that one day, I will look back and know that I made my Father happy.

I encourage you’re my friends. Listen for that voice and be obedient. It may be hard today….but tomorrow it will bring a new journey.

In Christ ALONE!

Sometimes...I feel like i can do it all. Or at least I want to try. Or I do try. But the reality is...I can't. I can't do it alone. It is in CHRIST alone. My friend posted this amazing video a few weeks ago and ever since....this song has been encouraging my heart! I want to share it with you friends! Whether you are in a storm, a dry land, or in a fresh new season, I pray that you take a moment to read these lyrics, to listen to the words , and to allow them to sink deep in.

I encourage you to not just listen and read, but to understand.

THINK about each line and what it means for your life.

What an awesome God we serve.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand