Finding yourself favored by God can be a challenge. Look at the young girl, Mary. She was one of Gods' favorites and she was asked to be the mother of Gods' Son, Jesus. She would face shame, danger and heartache if she accepted the task. She said, "Yes."
Mary was favored because she believed in Gods' promises. She said, "Yes" because she had a servants' heart. Like Abraham, she trusted God even though the road looked impossibly difficult. She let God make the plan for her life. She obeyed each step of the way even though she was honest enough to question. She allowed God to answer her doubts.
We can learn much from Mary. We learn to believe, seek Gods' favor, accept Gods' challenge and trust and obey!
I am being challenged as of late. I never thought this job could be that I have been chosen by God because I have been favored. In this challenge my first thought is that I cannot do it! Mary couldn't do her job, either. Not without Gods' power in her life. It is the same with me. To face my challenge I must rely on Gods' power working through me. Could I mess up? Sure. I can take it and do the job in my own strength and my own way. I don't want to, though. I want to make an impact for God in this world. If He chooses me to do it in this way, I will obey. I will offer my doubts and questions to Him. He has all the answers!
Father God, You are the challenger! You want to do the impossible through Your people, Your favored ones. I admit I am sometimes uncomfortable being called favored of You. I want to be favored, but I also know my failures. You know my sins too, and still You show me favor. Thank You for using me! Thank You for empowering me to do what You have asked. Give me wisdom and strength, Lord!
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Friday, December 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Costly Obedience
Obedience is costly. When we choose to obey Parents, the law or God we pay a price.
We give up control and for those of us who like to be in control that is a high price to pay. Then there are times when we come against opposition to the path of obedience and we pay the cost of a change is relationships or our circumstances. Obedience is NOT easy!
There are times when obedience will force us to stand alone. There may be people on both sides of an issue who will oppose our walk with God. Like Paul who found himself criticized by both the followers of the way and by the Jewish community we must stand firm with God.
Solitude. It can be a dangerous, lonely, and costly place to stand, but God will never let our obedience go unrewarded! The question for today is: Am I willing to stand alone in obedience? Am I willing to live a life of solitude, knowing that my reward is Jesus Himself?
Father, I want to belong and yet I am called to obey You in some matters that put me on the outside of a group. I must depend on You to help me stand alone in the world but never alone in You! You have promised to be with me always and I want very much to choose You and Your way! Lead me Lord! I depend on You!
We give up control and for those of us who like to be in control that is a high price to pay. Then there are times when we come against opposition to the path of obedience and we pay the cost of a change is relationships or our circumstances. Obedience is NOT easy!
There are times when obedience will force us to stand alone. There may be people on both sides of an issue who will oppose our walk with God. Like Paul who found himself criticized by both the followers of the way and by the Jewish community we must stand firm with God.
Solitude. It can be a dangerous, lonely, and costly place to stand, but God will never let our obedience go unrewarded! The question for today is: Am I willing to stand alone in obedience? Am I willing to live a life of solitude, knowing that my reward is Jesus Himself?
Father, I want to belong and yet I am called to obey You in some matters that put me on the outside of a group. I must depend on You to help me stand alone in the world but never alone in You! You have promised to be with me always and I want very much to choose You and Your way! Lead me Lord! I depend on You!
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Big O
My memory verse right now is John 14:21. "Anyone who has my commands and obeys them loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I, too, will love him and show Myself to him." Did you catch the Big O word?
Obedience! This word conjures up images of disobedience or times when we have messed up, needed discipline, or were punished for a wrongdoing. Seldom do we look at obedience head on. Though we experience feelings of satisfaction, peace and joy when we obey, we will quickly forget and fall back into our selfish mindset that leads away from obedience.
Back to the verse. God says that if I obey Him it shows my love for Him. The Big O is my love given back to God.
Loving God, You loved me first, even before I ever thought of loving You. You are so Good and loving that to obey You shows my trust and complete surrender to You. That is Your picture of love. It is not hearts and flowers and love songs. It is the Big O. I confess that I struggle to obey sometimes. My love is not perfect, I fall short of loving You as You deserve. I do thank You, Lord, for loving me through my failures. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me so that I may want to obey.
Obedience! This word conjures up images of disobedience or times when we have messed up, needed discipline, or were punished for a wrongdoing. Seldom do we look at obedience head on. Though we experience feelings of satisfaction, peace and joy when we obey, we will quickly forget and fall back into our selfish mindset that leads away from obedience.
Back to the verse. God says that if I obey Him it shows my love for Him. The Big O is my love given back to God.
Loving God, You loved me first, even before I ever thought of loving You. You are so Good and loving that to obey You shows my trust and complete surrender to You. That is Your picture of love. It is not hearts and flowers and love songs. It is the Big O. I confess that I struggle to obey sometimes. My love is not perfect, I fall short of loving You as You deserve. I do thank You, Lord, for loving me through my failures. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me so that I may want to obey.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Shining Lights
The world is full of darkness. There are wars, rumors of wars. We are in the midst of so much evil perpetrated on the innocent. The earth groans with eruptions, quakes, firestorms, and floods. In the middle of it all God wants us, His children, to shine like stars!
I love to look up into the night sky and see the brilliance of the stars against the dark and seemingly endless sky. The stars are the place where our eyes rest. They bring light to the shadows and chase away the overwhelming cover of night. How can we be like the stars?
To be like the stars, to be the light the world needs in these dark times, we must do what we need to do without grumbling or questioning. Our light comes from obedience to our Father in Heaven, the obedience that is wholehearted and does not complain.
Right now, for me, that obedience is to let go unbegrudgingly. Letting go of things close to my heart that must be let loose so that I can do what God has said for me to do. tough assignment, but I already feel the light shine through me and lift me up.
Lord, God, Maker of the stars and the heavens, I join with Your creation in being a light for the dark world. It is Your light that shines through me! It is You who lifts me up! You are the fulfillment of my destiny!
I love to look up into the night sky and see the brilliance of the stars against the dark and seemingly endless sky. The stars are the place where our eyes rest. They bring light to the shadows and chase away the overwhelming cover of night. How can we be like the stars?
To be like the stars, to be the light the world needs in these dark times, we must do what we need to do without grumbling or questioning. Our light comes from obedience to our Father in Heaven, the obedience that is wholehearted and does not complain.
Right now, for me, that obedience is to let go unbegrudgingly. Letting go of things close to my heart that must be let loose so that I can do what God has said for me to do. tough assignment, but I already feel the light shine through me and lift me up.
Lord, God, Maker of the stars and the heavens, I join with Your creation in being a light for the dark world. It is Your light that shines through me! It is You who lifts me up! You are the fulfillment of my destiny!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Mission: Obedience
My mission for God is to obey! It is not for me to manipulate the outcome so I will get patted on the back, or rewarded for the success of the project. Obedience, plain and simple is the goal.
This is a strange thought to most of us. I guess we figure if God gives us an assignment we should make sure that it turns out right! The problem with that kind of thinking is that it places us in the drivers seat and puts God on the sidelines. The truth is that whatever mission God sends us to do is His mission and we are just an instrument in accomplishing the task He has assigned us.
Ultimately my success in the eyes of God is my obedience, not the finished result. My answer to the Lords' call and the follow through with complete obedience will reward me with His words, "Well done!"
It may be hard to leave the control in His hands but then sometimes just obeying Him is enough. Today does have enough trouble of its own! Those little steps He asks me to make could be steps of faith that in looking back weren't so little after all.
Mission: obedience.....I accept!
This is a strange thought to most of us. I guess we figure if God gives us an assignment we should make sure that it turns out right! The problem with that kind of thinking is that it places us in the drivers seat and puts God on the sidelines. The truth is that whatever mission God sends us to do is His mission and we are just an instrument in accomplishing the task He has assigned us.
Ultimately my success in the eyes of God is my obedience, not the finished result. My answer to the Lords' call and the follow through with complete obedience will reward me with His words, "Well done!"
It may be hard to leave the control in His hands but then sometimes just obeying Him is enough. Today does have enough trouble of its own! Those little steps He asks me to make could be steps of faith that in looking back weren't so little after all.
Mission: obedience.....I accept!
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