Obedience

"But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." ~ 1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT)

Have you an area that you know where God is leading you to?  He has given you a task to do. Have you done it? If not, why?  

I have been asking myself the same question. Why? In fact, this very blog post is staring me in the face months after I started it. Why? I have no good reason for the distraction- not for this long. I sat and stared at it tonight in reverent shame. I felt, in the following moments, similar to Peter when He is crying to Jesus that he (Peter) is a sinful man. I felt unable to lift my eyes to Him. I felt as if He was looking to me for an answer for my action/ inaction. I was uncomfortable. I had no answers, only sorrowful regrets. 

You might say, "That's a bit much. It's only a blog post."  But it isn't. 

God and I have been in this blog idea together for some time now. Except He has shown up faithfully and I have not. It's more than a blog post. It is a matter of obedience.  I am reminded of what God said about Saul in 1 Samuel 16:7-8:

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

A few different times when I have been indecisive of my next move and feel restless, a friend has asked me, "What was the last thing that God told you to do? Do that."

This blog is one of the "last thing(s) He told [me] to do."  It's so much more than a blog. It is a proving ground of faithfulness. So far, I am losing greatly.  

I thought originally that this blog was my idea. I thought it was a hobby and that God was allowing it. As such, I have not taken the dedication as seriously as I should have. More and more, I am realizing that this is really God's blog. He has put the desire in my heart and has been waiting for me and He just needs me to put my hands to the proverbial plow. 

He has been sending me whispers and prompts here and there along the way about things He wants me to share. Sometimes I have not been able to do it in that moment and have then forgotten. Sometimes I am feeling tired or unable to focus for the loudness of mind. Sometimes I plan to do it but then I get sidetracked and don't. Regardless of the reason, it is wrong. "Delayed obedience is disobedience." 

"23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." ~ Romans 3:23-24

"15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[k] as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred to, 18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness." ~ Romans 6:15-18

I praise God that there is forgiveness for all of our sins, whether we think them great or small, through the redemption of Jesus Christ.

My words of the year are Focused, Faithful, Fruitful, and Free. All of these words go together and pretty much in that order. I began praying for a word in the last couple of months of the year. I heard Focused. I thought that was great. Yet, one by one, the others were added. It is a four-step plan of freedom. God and I are walking them out together throughout this year. Clearly I feel I have a long way to go but, holding His hand, I am confident that we will get there. 

This message was laid on my heart quite awhile ago. At the time, the focus was people. In this moment, I am reminded of it for the moments of obedience and for the last line: "The first thing you need to do is just show up."

Here is one more thought about obedience. Do you have anyone that you are having continual issues in getting along with? Have you checked your heart and your deeds? Maybe something undone for God is standing in your way. Prayer is good for getting along but so is obedience. 

I hope that you are not experiencing any disobedience. If you are, I pray that you address it today directly. Thank God for all that He has given to you, tell Him you are sorry (if you are), and then commit your ways unto Him. He will direct your steps. 

"6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6-7

"5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

7Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your bodyb

and refreshmentc to your bones." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

"3Commit your works to the LORD

and your plans will be achieved." ~ Proverbs 16:3

I leave with you two songs that are stuck in my head. The first is The Goodness of God, particularly the chorus:

"All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh I will sing of the goodness of God"

And this one, Promises by Maverick City, (feat. Joe L. Barnes and Naomi Raine)

"Great is Your faithfulness to me

Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same
I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me, oh"

💗 We are to be holy because He is holy. We also need to strive for faithfulness because He is faithful. May God bless you richly and may you stay close in step with His Holy Spirit.