Day 14
OBEY
Reminder: Jot down everything God shows you in the secret place and place it in a journal for periodic review. Why is this important? Because when we retain what God gives, He gives more.
Today’s focus is on obedience. Let’s start with this massive question from our Master:
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)
PRAY. Take a few moments to tremble before the weight of that question. Whisper, You are my Lord.
Discipleship means obedience—implicit, immediate obedience. Disciples of Christ are eager to obey every word of His mouth. We don’t vet the word to determine its feasibility. We just say yes to the King. “Sell all.” Yes, Lord.
Obedience isn’t “the down side” or “obligatory
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your- selves. (James 1:22)
side” of the Christian life. Actually, it’s the liberating side of our faith. It makes our journey with Him joyful, bright, and life-giving.
We said earlier that everything in the kingdom is predicated upon hearing, but hearing finds its fulfillment in doing. Faith acts. James said that if we don’t obey we deceive ourselves.
A prayer life that hears and speaks but doesn’t do is dull and lifeless. Joyful Christian living is discovered only in the meadows of obedience.
When we do what we hear in the secret place, life becomes a romantic adventure with our beloved Bridegroom.
God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. (Ps 118:27)
Psalm 118 gives fantastic imagery to the glory of obedience:
In this verse, the psalmist likened our surrender to the way a sacrificial bull would be bound to the altar as an offering to God. Here’s why. When God gives a command, it comes with light and understanding. In joyful response, we offer our heart in total obedience, binding our soul strenuously to the altar of consecration. The verse depicts eager submission to God’s will because we’ve seen the wisdom of His command.
Without understanding and light, the way of obedience can sometimes appear hard or harmful. But when light and understanding illumine our hearts, we realize that obedience is our safest refuge. When Jesus calls, we’re safer out in the storm with Him than in the boat without Him (Matt 14:25-32).
When God calls you to do something you can’t do, you’re being drawn into an adventure. Get out of the boat and step onto the water. Unreserved obedience always trumps self-protective disobedience.
Has God ever called you to do something that didn’t make sense? Did it appear that obedience would lead to ruin? When you chose obedience, were you surprised at how the path opened before you?
Prayer without obedience is boring. Who wants it? Therefore, since you’ve decided to reset your prayer life, reset your resolve to obey, too.
Is there any area of life in which you’ve struggled to obey Christ? If so, write it candidly here:
PRAY.
✦ Ask for His measureless love to melt from your heart any pocket of resistance to His marvelous will.
✦ Express your confidence in His leadership in your life.
✦ Tell Him that you know His command is everlasting life (John 12:50).
✦ Express your resolve to obey Him even unto death.
◆ Ask Him to make obedience a firm stone in your foundation so that your prayer life might be unshakable.
Obedience will make today delightful!
RESET: 20 Ways to a Consistent Prayer Life Copyright © 2018 by Bob Sorge Published by Oasis House
Reproduced with permission.
For information on all Bob’s books, go to www.oasishouse.com