“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. -Exodus 19:5-

Obedience can be a challenge, especially when we feel tempted to believe that we stand to lose more through our obedience than we might gain. Obeying God is essential to pleasing Him, however, not just in times of temptation, but at all times.

When God commands us to obey Him, He is giving us a principle by which to live. He is also setting a framework around our lives that forms a hedge of protection from evil.

Can you remember the last time you felt tempted to do the opposite of what you knew God desired you to do? A struggle erupted within your heart. The question arose: Will obeying God cost me more than disobeying Him? Can I experience greater happiness by committing this sin than I would by obeying God?

When we choose to obey God, we choose the way of wisdom. His promises of blessing for obedience far outweigh any possible consequences. He asks us to obey Him and leave whatever happens to Him.

As we grow in our walk with the Lord, obedience becomes a cornerstone to fellowship with God. If we obey Him, He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His precepts and His love.

Disobedience sends a message to the Lord, declaring that we know better than He does when it comes it comes to our lives and the circumstances surrounding them.

God loves us and is committed to us. He commands our obedience, not because He is strict taskmaster, but because He knows the devastating effect that disobedience and sin will have on our lives.

Satan, however, has another goal in mind. He seeks to tempt believers to disobey God, usually by telling them that God’s promises cannot be trusted and that we can enjoy life more through disobedience than by our obedience.

Remember, disobedience always has fierce repercussions-feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness, broken lives, destroyed marriages, and bitter disputes, among them. While sin can never change God’s eternal love for His children, it certainly disrupts our fellowship with the Savior and alienates us from God’s blessings. In times of disobedience, we become spiritually weak and unable to discern right from wrong. We sink deeper into sin’s grasp and find it impossible to reverse our sinfulness on our own.

As we begin to apply the following principles to our lives, we will begin to obey God with confidence and joy, knowing that He can be fully trusted to keep all His promises.

-Trust God with your life and all that concerns you.

There is no way to go wrong if you place your hope and trust in God. He created you and He loves you with an eternal love. Therefore, you are His greatest concern and the apple of His eye.

-Wait on the Lord for an answer to your problem or situation.

When in doubt, refuse to move ahead unless you know that God is leading you.

-Meditate on God’s Word

When you saturate your mind with the Word of God, you gain God’s viewpoint. When temptation comes, you will know right from wrong and can act accordingly.

-Listen to the Holy Spirit.

God continues to speak to His people today. He speaks to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and through the words of a pastor or trusted Christian friend. We become sensitive to the Spirit of God by seeking Him through His Word and by spending time with Him-praying and studying the principles in Scripture.

-Be willing to wait or walk away when the way before you is unclear.

If you desire to please God above all others, obedience to Him will require you to remain firm. If you do not sense clear guidance in your situation, ask God to confirm His will to you in His Word. He will never contradict Scripture. His will for your life always lines up perfectly with what the Bible says.

-Be willing to endure conflict.

When Israel entered the Promise Land at God’s direction, it had to face strong enemy opposition. God rarely empties out lives of trouble and conflict. If He did, our dependence on Him would fade. He allows enough difficulty to keep us turned toward Him.

-Leave the consequences to God.

Obedience may not be viewed as popular, but it will always put you in a favourable position before God. Therefore, stay on the path of obedience and leave the rest to Him.

Charles F. Stanley-Life Principle Bible NKJV