Obedience

Obedience seems like it would be such a simple thing but it can really be hard in certain areas. If we aren't being obedient in every area are we really trusting God to control our lives and know what is best? People always tell us what to do and what is best for our lives but God truly knows what is best and WILL guide us. It is very hard and doesn't feel good. If we don't have the will to obey out soul and flesh may not really be broken and submitted to God. We have to acknowledge our imperfectness and take delight in His perfectness and trust Him. He created us and this world, He obviously knows what is best. When He tells us to read His word, He knows we will benefit from it and be blessed by it and it will draw us closer to Him. He tells us to love others because it is a witness to Him and makes our hearts full of joy and it is really loving Him. The things we say we need to be careful with how they impact others and would we want everyone to hear them or is it private. Should we really be saying it? If we have to question it the answer is probably no. God knows what is best, He does all the hard work. We just have to trust Him. He is pretty smart and knows how satan will attack us. God wants us to repent and change our ways. He is so good. This morning it even annoyed me because somebody parked horribly next to me and for some reason it just like really frustrated me, it's such a silly stupid thing but I still need to act in love. 

“If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15 NIV). 

I can be such a hypocrite and tell everyone else to do something or say I love God and then not follow through with it. I need to love God more than I love my flesh and the temporary pleasures. I constantly think I can't just do something so the end goal is to end up in heaven and that is a better alternative than hell but I need to do it out of pure love for God and because I love Him I want to obey Him. 

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV). 

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:29 NIV). 

Think how repeatedly in the Old Testament God delivered His people and they kept their ways and crafted idols with their own hands. God has saved me and saved me from a lot worse and I will not let myself fall back into sin. 

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:3, 4 NIV). 

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. (Psalm 119:60-62, 66-68 NIV). 

Psalm 119 is crazy powerful and so full of Gods heart! It breaks my heart to think how much more I could and should be following Him! He is so good! Lord I just need your help to obey You and repent and continue to set my heart on You!