Obedience Brings Blessing?

Obedience brings blessing.

I've been ruminating on this phrase ever since I read it a couple of weeks ago in an article by Becky Kopitzke.

It keeps popping into my head.
I decided to write my thoughts to you so I could maybe tackle this for myself.

First, let me ask, what do you think?
True…false…sometimes true?

I love my definitions, so I had to look it up. Obedience is a noun. That means that is the THING that is being produced when we are OBEDIENT. The definition of obedient, the verb, is complying or willing to comply with orders or requests; submissive to another's will.

Basically, when we follow through on an order or request, we are obedient.

Let's ask the question, what is God requesting of us?

Like I said last week, love God and love what God made (including our enemies and ourselves).

But, I'm finding that hard to do lately….

There are so many areas where I am struggling to be obedient. Today, I'm just going to talk about God's will for my life and the request I make of myself to follow His will.  But, I beg you to consider the other authorities in this world too.

Like I said, God's will is pretty simple. The two greatest commandments are these, love God first and then love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22: 37-40).

Ok, but what if I'm not showing love to myself?

• What if I ask myself to have the carrot but eat the chips instead?
• What if I ask myself to go for a walk but sit on the couch scrolling instead?
• What if I ask myself to stretch but take a couple of Advil instead?
• What if I ask myself to sit and pray but do a load of laundry instead?

If I can't follow through on the requests I am making of myself, I find it even hard to be obedient to the requests God asks of me.

But I realized something. I NEED the first commandment, FIRST.

Love God. If I don't have that first, nothing else comes very easily.
Everything feels like a struggle. My whole day feels like nails on a chalkboard without loving God first.

In the last couple of months, I have fallen out of a key habit.  One that set me up for greater success every morning; saying my verse upon waking.

I don't know why it went to the wayside.  It doesn't matter.  I just know I need to go back to it.

I'm starting with that. One verse. Every morning.

Obedience brings blessing.

I think this world often makes obedience look difficult or complicate.  That's how Satan deceives us into not doing it.

But, it doesn't have to be burdensome, complex, frustrating.  We don't need to have an aversion to obedience. It can be fulfilling, loving, simple, and even joyful. 

If we choose to see it that way.

Ok, God. I am going to seek your will every morning. Your requests will become my requests. I'm going to focus on loving you, loving this body and mind you created, and then showing that love to the rest of the world with just changing this one thing.

From obedience, I look forward to a more resilient faith, a healthy body and mind, and stronger relationships with the people God puts into my life.

Truly blessings you bring from simple acts.

That's why I'm choosing obedience, to bring blessings to myself and to those around me.

PS If obedience is hard, especially when it comes to caring for your temple, sign up for a free consultation.  Let's discuss where you're missing out on blessings and how God is just waiting to hand them to you.