Being Obedient to Do God’s Will

Do you struggle with being obedient to do God’s will? I know I struggle with this all the time. Why do you ask? Because as a child, I was very strong-willed and hyper, to say the least. I always wanted to do what I wanted. Not what anyone told me to do. This got me in a lot of trouble all the time. In school, the teachers always corrected me – sending me to Mother Superior’s office. It was not until tragedy hit my life that God began to get my attention.

Proverbs 22:6 says Train up a child in the way they should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. NKJV 

My parents tried; they taught me right from wrong, but when you are stubborn and bullheaded, you do not always listen. Now, do not get me wrong, God does not cause tragedy, but He used it for my good. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. NKJV 

God had a purpose for my life, but I did not know that until I got saved at the age of twenty-eight. I started to understand a little bit more. I began reading the Bible and could not put it down. I was changing because the Word was becoming active in me. I wanted to know more and more about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. The love of God surrounded me like a blanket, keeping me safe and engulfing me in His presence; no greater feeling did I ever experience: the Word guiding me every step of the way; drawing me closer and closer to my Lord and Savior; my eyes opened to His truth.

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? NKJV

God was showing me His love, His ways, and guiding me, and removing that stubborn heart. I was melting like butter in His hands, and my heart was changing. His Word was becoming alive to me, and I could see the love God had for me and others who would come to His saving grace. What I was experiencing was a miracle to me like nothing I have ever experienced. The more I read the Word of God the more I wanted to know about this Savior who loved me and called me to share with others, this Gospel, and the life of Jesus.

At first, my family thought I was crazy because they did not understand you could talk to God and have a personal relationship with Him. But they saw such a change in my life, that they could not deny I was a different person now. God was showing me His love and His will for my life. It was a process and a journey; day by day, I fell in love with God, my Savior. I learned about the Holy Spirit, which I knew nothing about until the day I got filled with the Holy Spirit, which was evidenced by speaking in tongues. What a joy that flooded my soul and spirit; never have I felt more loved and joyous than I did that day. I truly was learning to be more obedient to the God who saved my life many times and my love grew even greater than I could have ever imagined.

I was hooked, and all I wanted to do was please God and serve Him in any way I could. Now, I had the Holy Spirit to help me and guide me in how to do that. We cannot do this in our own strength; we need the Holy Spirit’s help to accomplish all God wants us to do. We cannot do it in our human self; it is done by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts and callings are His. 

You see obedience is a blessing from God. But to the sinner, it is a curse. God wants only the best for His children, and He knows best even when we cannot see His purpose and plan for our lives, He can.  So to obey is His way of loving us, protecting us, and guiding us in the way we should go. I still struggle sometimes with obedience. My flesh wants what it wants, which is not always good. So, God is in His infinite wisdom, leading me back to see His way is best.

Years ago, a teacher gave me some words of wisdom. He taught that when we obey Holy Spirit’s leading, our spirit rules our soul, mind, will, and emotions.  Then our soul rules our flesh to do the right thing. It took me a long time to understand this teaching. We know we have a spirit, a soul, and a body like there is a God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit. The three in one. God created us in His image.  So, we are also three parts: spirit, soul, and body. How awesome is that!  Sometimes my mind cannot comprehend it all. But just the same, we love God for it, and it makes you want to obey and love God more for all He does.

The more I know God the more I want to love and obey Him. Obedience also teaches us to trust God, seek His ways, and rely solely on Him. So, I end my message with this: love God, obey His Word, trust Him, and you will have a life blessed by God. Will your life always be easy? No, it will not, but you will have the joy of the Lord knowing you did your part and living a life God called you to live in obedience to His will. May you be blessed always.