Obedience and Surrender

My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. Proverbs 23:26

What does it look like to obey God?

I mean to really obey what He asks of you?

Does it look like taking control of your fleshly desires?

Exchanging your hopes and dreams for God’s?

Asking Him for His thoughts for your future?

Doing the thing He nudges you to do?

Does your life look like that?

Does it reflect an obedience and surrender to God?

I’m guessing you have parts that do.

The squishy parts that feel good.

Obeying your boss when it feels right.

Giving to charity when you really do have plenty of extra.

Regularly attending a church where you feel continually affirmed.

Loving your child when they love you back.

But what about the ugly parts?

Loving the underserved in your family?

Giving to others out of your poverty?

Pushing aside instant entertainment to drink in the wisdom of God’s word?

Praying for your people even when you’re tired?

Doing the right thing when the rest of the world thinks differently?

Standing for God’s truth even if your loved ones turn away?

We all tend to choose obedience and surrender when we want to. The challenge remains to obey and surrender when we don’t feel like it. When it goes against our flesh.

Obedience to God might look a little different in my life than yours.

God asks things of us that are personal to the impact He has in store for us.

Me? God asked me to start writing down His words of wisdom more than a dozen years ago.

Starting this blog, I was nervous as it seemed I was sharing my bare naked heart.

But I obeyed.

And here we are. My 500th post.

From this blog my book was birthed, selling over 91,000 so far, not including the recent Spanish edition or audio book.

Just signed my contract for a second book – prayers to go with each devotion.

And they are also creating a journal to go with my book.

All because I obeyed. Even though starting the blog felt really weird.

Trust God and obey. Surrender to what He has for you.

It might be a little scary, but when God asks you to do it, He’ll give you all the strength, wisdom, and peace you need.

Can’t wait to hear what He does through your obedience and surrender to Him. 🙂

Photos by Bartłomiej Balickijoe tingTim Marshall, & Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Your Crown

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Why do we allow others to reduce us to tears?

Why do we allow another’s insecurities to confirm lies in our heads?

Why do we allow another’s foul moods to bring us to our knees?

Why do we let others affect us negatively?

Because we are human.

Flawed, too.

We mess up, going back to that lie we believed about ourselves.

That lie that seems so real such as “I’m not worth it” or “I’m an absolute failure”.

I’m amazed at how immature I am.

Even when I know better.

Instantly how pitiful I can become when reacting to another’s very flawed actions.

It’s in those moments we must stop and straighten up, or our crown will fall from our head.

Remember your crown?

Meaning, remember your place in this world?

You are a child of the Most High God.

THE God. The One who created all things.

The One in charge of your past, present, and future.

The One who causes the sun to rise and set in the evenings.

The One who gave you your quirks, desires, and personality.

The One who gave you dreams and talents to fulfill them in His timing.

Do not let the opinions of others negate who God says you are.

God says you are His daughter. His son. His beloved child worth dying for.

He gave His everything to capture you for eternity.

That means you are priceless.

The next time you find yourself in a less than stellar situation, do not allow yourself to stoop for another’s crumbs.

You are worth more than crumbs.

But if your crown falls off, please stoop to pick it up.

Its place is on your precious little head.

Photos by Ashton MullinsNathan McgregorJametlene Reskp, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Always by Your Side

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

He’s here.

Picture Jesus sitting right here.

In the chair beside you.

He’s as near as your very breath.

He’s waiting for you to need Him.

He knows you need Him, more than you even realize, but He gives you that choice.

He knows your heart belongs to Him, but sometimes it wanders away a bit.

When your heart wanders, it seeks after things of this world instead of God.

Jesus is seeking the Father on your behalf.

Always in prayer for you.

Your needs. Your health.

Your very life.

Anticipating your sigh, He looks at you.

Love and sympathy pour from His eyes.

He sees you.

He knows you.

He has a plan for all your days.

Good things, hard things, and everything in between.

He longs to hear your heart.

To carry your burdens, big or small.

As you labor through this life, reach out to Jesus.

Tell Him your joys.

Your sorrows.

Your hopes and dreams.

By the way, He already knows them all.

Reach out to Him afresh today.

He’s right here waiting for you.

Photos by Joshua LawrenceAndrew Shelleyeduard, & Ben White on Unsplash

I Am Yours, God

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24

You know my heart, Lord.

You created it.

You fashioned me in every way.

My talents.

My hopes.

My dreams – all of them are from You.

I want to know You more.

I want to trust You with all that I am.

The moment I wake, may You be on my mind.

When I close my eyes at night, may my thoughts remain on You.

You have my best in mind.

You created me for a higher purpose.

Reveal Your plans to me, O God.

May I recognize Your divine appointments.

May I minister Your peace to those around me.

May I comfort those who are sad.

May I rejoice with those who share.

May I pray with those who need Your touch.

And may I be a living extension of You.

Photos by Rula SibaiAnnie SprattNong, & Gary Yost on Unsplash