Most Gracious Lord, through the gifts of reason and free-will, You’ve given me the opportunity to choose between a blessing and a curse. The blessing, if I obey Your commands … the curse, if I do not obey them and turn aside to follow things that are not of You. There are many things I can do to please You, but nothing that brings You more delight than to obey Your commands and follow Your instructions. I know that when I give heed to Your voice, peace will come over me like rain clouds covering the parched earth. To show You the level of commitment that I have for You, I must be willing to listen to what You have to say and then go about doing what You ask me to do. When I am able to walk in the ways You teach me, I know I’ll be able to prosper and be successful in whatever I do. Why? Because I have chosen to align my life with Yours.
You have spoken through Your Scriptures to tell me that, if I truly love You, I will obey Your commands. As I get to know You better, Your words will take on more meaning and I’ll be more inclined to listen and obey. Because of my willingness to follow Your instructions, You call me Your own. However, when I am disobedient, I make You out to be a liar and I cannot rightfully discern what is truth. But, if I choose to let Your words guide me, Your goodness is able to be perfected in me. To become more like You, I must follow Your example and walk as You walked. To be victorious, I must become more discerning of which voice I listen to because I am finding that listening to You is much more profitable than listening to my fellow man or my enemy. Teach me how to discern Your voice and show me how to do Your will. Lead me in paths of righteousness.
To become a doer of Your Word, I must first learn how to be a good listener of it. For, if I listen to what You are trying to share with me, I will learn the principles that You live by and, in turn, I will be guided in overcoming my obstacles. As I become a good listener, it will be harder for me to turn aside and do the things I will be sorry for later. As You teach me how to walk in Your ways, my life will be filled with good fruit and I will find favor in Your sight. In learning to obey, the pressure, stress and worry that rob me of my health and well-being are eliminated. To be a follower, I must obey You with a sincere heart and loving actions. In becoming Your student, I am learning that I cannot pick and choose from among Your ordinances … instead, I must obey them all. That is why I press forward in learning to master the things You have to teach me so I can become more obedient to You. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Acts 5:22 We ought to obey God rather than men.