Obedience Brings Joy

“Obedience brings joy.”

I read that phrase in an interview with Lauren Chandler (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/on-my-shelf-life-and-books-with-lauren-chandler), and it has stuck with me ever since. I’ve repeated it to myself, and reminded myself of the truth of that statement, but it wasn’t until recently that it played out in my life and I saw it firsthand.

Have you ever known that God wanted you to do something, but then dragged your feet to actually DO it? Yep, that has been me for the past month, I’m sad to say. I knew what God was telling me to do, I knew it was Biblical and the right thing, and yet I hemmed and hawed. I realized I was using the excuse of “I’m still praying for more direction...” when in reality, God had given me the direction I needed already. I don’t think there is anything wrong with praying for direction—in fact I believe that God loves it when we look to Him for wisdom and guidance! Proverbs 9:10 says that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” so there is no better place to start when asking for wisdom than by listening to the Lord, and by remembering His holiness, sovereignty, and sufficiency. However, I believe that there are times that we can pray too much asking for direction, when God’s Word clearly tells us what to do, and we already know what He wants us to do. I think of James 1:22-25, where James admonishes his reader to not only listen to the Word, but to DO what it says!

Last week I finally realized that by dragging my feet and saying that “I was still praying for more direction,” when I KNEW what God wanted me to do, I was acting in disobedience. Growing up I was taught that obedience had three parts. First was doing what I was told to do. Second was doing it WHEN I was told to do it. Third was doing it with a good attitude. By not acting and obeying God when He first told me, I was acting in disobedience.

So I prayed specifically that God would give me the opportunity I needed that day, and you know what, He did! He opened the door wide, and gave me an opportunity that was better than I had imagined!  I obeyed Him and finally took the next step that I needed to.

And the immediate result?

JOY.

I was filled with joy, joy that only comes from our Heavenly Father.

Joy because I had obeyed Him.

Joy because I knew I had acted in accordance with His will.

“Obedience brings joy.” It really does!

My prayer now is that I will take that lesson to heart, and obey immediately the next time God tells me to do something. I pray that I will remember that my obedience to Him and His word brings joy.

Nothing Can Separate

This morning I woke up fearful--things on my mind that made me nervous, things in the future, and things that are out of my control. As I had my morning coffee and prayer journaled, God kept directing me to different Scriptures on love. Fitting, since today is Valentine's Day, huh? 


I came to Romans 8:38-39, verses that I have read many times, memorized in Awana, and I'm sure I've quoted to others. Today, though, the verses jumped out to me in a new way. Paul is writing to the Roman church, and he says, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

That's a pretty exhaustive list. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Jesus. The part that stuck out to me this morning was "neither the present nor the future." The things on my mind, causing anxiety and fear, are things in the future... but these verses reminded me that that there is NOTHING, in the present nor in the future, that can separate me from Jesus' love. 

So why am I fearful? Why am I anxious? Whatever tomorrow may bring, I can trust in God's unfailing love (Psalm 13:5), and I can know and rely on His love (1 John 4:16). 

Jesus Himself told us that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart, because He has overcome the world, and in Him, we may have peace (John 16:33). 

I think of the song "Your Love Awakens Me" by Phil Wickham. The chorus says that God's love is greater, and His love is stronger. So again, why am I choosing to fear? God's love is greater and stronger than anything this world might throw my way. His love is constant, and unfailing. To quote another song, His love is "never gonna let me go!" (Kristin Stanfill, Never Gonna Let Me Go). 

Father, may I remember everyday the simple yet profound truth that You love me. Help me to rest in Your love, to trust in Your love, and to know that nothing can separate me from Your love. Then, I pray that because You love me, I will love others (1 John 4:19). I pray that I will live a life of love (Eph. 5:2). I pray that because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You (Psalm 63:3). Thank you for Your unfailing, amazing, powerful love. Amen.