The concept of obedience often brings a shudder. It conjures images of restriction and the relinquishing of personal freedom, doesn’t it? We teach our children to follow it, we praise our pets when they adhere to it, but how do we, as adults walking a Christian path, embrace obedience in our everyday lives? It’s a tough pill to swallow, but my journey through 2019 taught me a valuable lesson: obedience truly is better than sacrifice.
In our walk with God, He often directs us in ways that contradict our personal plans. These divine instructions are designed not to frustrate us but to foster our growth, healing, and spiritual maturity. Yet, embracing these directions can be challenging, especially when they seem to go against everything we want or feel.
Here are some instructions I’ve felt from God that went against my initial desires:
- “Skip that event, stay home, and focus on your tasks.”
- “Hold off on starting that new project.”
- “Go over and talk to that person, see how they’re doing.”
And oh, how I’ve resisted:
- “But God, I’ve already paid for that event!”
- “Why give me this idea if I can’t act on it yet?”
- “I’m really not in the mood to talk…”
The audacity to tell God, “I’m not in the mood,” right? But that’s the flesh talking. Obedience, by definition, is compliance with an order or submission to another’s authority. Deciding to follow Christ means choosing to surrender our will, letting go of our fleshly desires, and operating as vessels for His will.
When God instructs us, it’s not arbitrary. Our obedience could save a life—ours or someone else’s—because God sees the bigger picture, the eternal impact, beyond our momentary feelings.
The Bible tells us not to rely solely on our feelings but to trust in God’s wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” This is a call to set aside our immediate reactions and trust that God’s ways, though mysterious, are aimed toward our ultimate good.
Consider this: acting on God’s nudge to introduce yourself to someone might lead you to a solution to a problem you’ve been wrestling with, or to a connection that could be pivotal in your life. When we ignore these divine nudges and choose our path, we often end up sacrificing time, energy, money, relationships, and mental peace—only to find ourselves back where we started.
The key to consistent obedience is discipline. You cannot have one without the other. It’s about training ourselves daily to prioritize His guidance over our feelings. Start small: if you feel the Spirit nudging you to speak to someone, push past your reluctance and just say hello. These small acts of obedience strengthen our trust and readiness for bigger tests of faith.
View each act of obedience as an adventure, knowing that the Almighty is your ultimate guide. Here’s a pro tip for staying aligned with God’s purpose: Always consult Him before making decisions, big or small. Ensuring you’re on the same page with God can prevent a lot of heartache and detours.
Embracing obedience transforms our lives from a series of chaotic events into a divinely guided journey. While the world champions independence and self-direction, the path of obedience invites us into a deeper, more meaningful alignment with God’s perfect plans for us. It’s not just about following rules—it’s about living in the fullness of God’s grace and provision.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Faith Activist
Featured Image by AJS1 from Pixabay
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