Tagged: work

February 8, 2015

HELLO OBEDIENCE

What does it mean to be obedient?
Naturally I looked it up.

I thought some of the synonyms were interesting.
When I clicked on submission it had a synonym of acceptance.

We’ll come back to that in a minute first let me explain why I’m even talking about obedience to begin with.

Recently I felt God leading me to make a decision that I didn’t necessarily want to make. In fact, in similar past circumstances I would ignore the nudges on my heart and I would continue doing what I was doing without a second thought, only to end up heart broken and feeling more damaged than before.
This time for some reason I felt an overwhelming-ness.
(It’s not a word, I know; I made it up!)
It was as if I could not disregard this discomfort or stirring in my spirit telling me that I was navigating dangerous waters. In the moment I would be good. I felt comfortable and content. Afterwards, I felt uneasy, doubtful and apprehensive. This went on for a couple of weeks before I decided to ask God for a specific sign. (Probably should have prayed on it on Day 1!)
Now you may or may not believe that God can answer our prayers with specific signs but I do. And because my flesh wanted one thing and my spirit was saying another I prayed for more clarity and a direct answer.
By now I’m sure you’re wondering if I got that answer.
As it so happens, I did. Was it the answer that I wanted? NO! BIG FAT RESOUNDING NO!!!
I started to ignore it. Just like every other time. I said to myself, hmmm maybe things can work out either way. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll be just fine.

Silly Natalie!!!

Now I have to give myself some kudos here because I truly believe I’ve come a long way from the hard headed, spoiled girl who did whatever she wanted knowing she shouldn’t. The girl who didn’t measure the consequences and then cried her eyes out for months in some cases years because she made the wrong choice from the beginning.
I’m glad to say that this time I listened to my gut feeling. I didn’t let myself get carried away by the desires of my flesh.

Galatians 5:19 says, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures.”

I am NOT willing to compromise my purity.

I am NOT willing to take a path that can lead to sexual impurity.

Which is why Galatians 5:16 is so important! 16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

This brings us back full circle.

It has become more important to me to be obedient to my Heavenly Father than to satisfy my own personal cravings. I’ve gotten to the place in my faith journey where submission to God’s law is a priority. I don’t want to feed the flesh and reap the repercussions. I long to strengthen my spirit and reap the blessings. I choose to accept God’s will for my life above what I think desire.

I am confident that as I delight myself in HIM, my King, that He will bless me with my heart’s deepest desires. (Psalm 37:4)

Comment below with what you are not willing to compromise. What have you had to be obedient about recently?