Obedience

So I know it has been forever since I have written a blog, but I have just been so busy with school and work that I haven't had time but I have finally found some free time!

I have recently been studying on OBEDIENCE which is a topic I sometimes struggle with because I like to be independent and do things on my own without admitting that I need God's guidence.  The book that I have been studying "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" defines obedience as "submission, habitually yielding to authority."  I began to contemplate that word HABITUALLY we must yield to God's authority so often that it becomes a habit.  Once it has become a habit it will be second nature to do it and we would have to try really hard to not do it anymore. 

To get to this habitual point we must start seeking God and His guidence in EVERYTHING that we do. 
"I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart" - Psalm 40:8

In Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus teaches a parable of a man with two sons. 
"But what do you think?  A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, Son, go, work today in my vineyard.  He answered and said, I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went.  Then he came to the second and said likewise.  And he answered and said, I go, sir, but he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father?  They said to Him, The first."
The father asks both of his sons if they will work in his vineyard.  The first said "I will not" but then later regretted it and went and worked for his father.  The second son said that he would go and work but he never went.  Jesus asks, "which of the two did the will of his father?" 

I think too often we tell God that we will do something that He is leading us to do, but yet we are human so we are easily distracted and end up not doing the things we promised to do.  This leads to another question, how do we resists distractions and temptations?

We must remember that in Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was tempted by Satan.  He had been fasting for 40 days and nights and Satan offered Him food yet He resisted.  Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world, and yet he still resisted Satan's temptations.  If you read the passage you learn that Jesus directly quotes scripture when battling Satan and his temptations.  So when faced with temptations all we have to do is call upon God and follow His guidence. 

It is important to realize that temptation comes in many forms some more obvious than others.  Returning to the parable I mentioned earlier the second son said that he would work in the field, but never went.  What do you think happened to him?  Perhaps he was tired or lazy, or maybe he didn't know how to work and was afraid of being out of his comfort zone. 

Being comfortable is usually my biggest tempation/distraction from obeying God.  The fear of stepping out of my comfort zone too often keeps me from obeying God and being BOLD in my walk with Jesus.  Sometimes when presented with opportunities to share the gospel I worry about what people will think of me or I worry if they will ask me a question I don't know the answer to.  If you share this same fear and you have missed any opportunity to share the gospel with someone please keep reading.

I was presented with an interesting scenario today.  You are in public and you feel that God is leading you to share the gospel with someone, or a perfect opportunity to share the gospel is presented and you are too afraid to take it because you are afraid it will be "awkward" or "uncomfortable".  Now picture you and that same person in front of the great white throne and that person's name is called, you immediately recognize them as a person you skipped out on sharing the gospel with.  Imagine how "awkward" and "uncomfortable" it will be to hear Jesus tell them that they never accepted Him and that they will spend eternity in hell. 

 We are clearly called to be BOLD all throughout the Bible!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen" - Matthew 28:19-20

I encourage you today to be BOLD and it is my prayer that God will bless us all with the courage we need to be bold!


As an update on my trip... I have been beyond blessed finacially and am so thankful for amazing family and friends.  I have finalized and purchased my plane ticket.  I officially leave May 29 and will not return until July 11.  I am growing more and more excited as the days go by.  Less than two months to go!  However, along with excitement comes nervousness because I have no idea what to expect once I get there.  So I continue to ask that you keep me in your prayers because I need them.