When Obedience Brings Blessings
Obedience — our culture has put such a negative connotation around in, when in reality, it is such a beautiful thing in the context of Christ. Think about this; Christ was constantly obedient to our Heavenly Father (John 14:31). In that, we received grace, forgiveness, peace, mercy, salvation, love and the list could go on. Well, aren’t we called to live a life exemplified by Christ? Wouldn’t that include being obedient to our Heavenly Father? The answer, to both of these questions, is YES!
When we are obedient to Christ we become abundantly blessed! Let me explain this with a personal example. I was in a relationship for just shy of three years and we were two and a half months out from our wedding day when God hit me with a bag of bricks. This relationship was not God-honoring in many ways.
Did we go to church on Sundays? Yes. Did we serve alongside each other in youth ministry? Yes. We even prayed together before every meal! That should say a lot right? No! What we didn’t do was put Christ first in our personal lives, or our relationship. We constantly looked to one another for fulfillment. Our wants, our needs, and even our heart’s deepest desires. Manipulation was a two-way street in our relationship. So... back to that bag of bricks.
Late July of 2017, I was a counselor for our youth students at camp. And just like every year, I asked God, “What are we going to work on this week?” I was there for the students. But, God is always leading and pruning us. So, I asked and I received (Matthew 7:7).
“Marriage and ministry,” said the Lord. “GREAT!” I thought. What 20 something, in full-time ministry, engaged girl, wouldn’t like that answer? Well, what I thought He meant, was not what He had in store.
I continued that week focused on my students and asked God for more insight on that answer. What I thought I was going to learn was how to have a fruitful marriage and a fruitful ministry. But, my heart ached all week. He kept challenging me in my relationship, He kept asking me if this guy was really “the one.” We came back from camp and I told my fiance that we needed to take a week and seek the Lord as to whether or not we were going to get married (Matthew 6:33).
During that week, I spent every free moment I had reading the Word and talking to God. I never felt closer to our Father and I never had more assurance of His guidance in my life. He continued to show me my worth and identity found in Him and Him alone.
There was nothing more I wanted then to feel that love and reassurance. Unfortunately, nothing I “felt” from my fiance exemplified the love Christ has for me. Am I saying love is a feeling? Definitely not. Love is sacrifice and commitment. But, I do believe that our feelings are indicators of our reality and can lead us to Truth. The peace and confidence God gave me in this storm were amazing, and He asked me to make one of the hardest decisions of my life: I had to break up with my fiance. Two and a half months before we were scheduled to say our vows, God lead me to the hard reality of what our relationship was.
Dresses were bought, tuxes were rented, invitations had arrived. And here I was, wrestling with God about what others were going to say and how I was going to hurt my fiance. Throughout this time, I kept leaning on the verse from Psalm 61:2, “When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” So, I did it. I broke up with him. But, as hard as it was, God was so evident through it all!
Through my obedience to the Holy Spirit, I have been abundantly blessed. I started a young adult’s group (instead of the young couples one we had planned) and gained some of my closest and most valuable, God-honoring friends. We genuinely do life together and challenge each other to trust the Lord with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5-6). My dream to start a home for teenage mothers would not have come into fruition if I had gotten married.
I am so grateful for our God! Jesus’ circumstances were a lot more stressful than mine, yet He obeyed God. If He can do it, I can too and so can you. I do not know what God is asking you to do, or like in my case, not to do. But, whatever it is; it is worth it. You are worth it. God is worth it. Take that leap of faith and be obedient to what the Holy Spirit is telling you. You never know what desires of your heart He will fulfill (Psalm 37:4).
Are you being obedient to the calling God has placed on your life?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up, Courtney was surrounded by brokenness. Thanks to Jesus' love, sacrifice, and pursuit, she now lives a life commissioned to His good plan. As a daughter of the King and Pastor to His people, she loves walking alongside others as they transition into joy and confidence. She has a heart for others to know their true worth and find freedom from their past. Music has always been apart of her life. She grew up in a song and dance troupe and to this day, attends concerts often. It is very rare that you will find Courtney sitting in complete silence.