OBEDIENCE

We raised three boys and as they were growing up, I took great pleasure in their obedient behavior. Makes a mom proud, for sure. Then when I’d have church leaders or teachers comment about their great behavior, I was doubly proud.

 

But, what happened on the occasions when they weren’t obedient? (Mind you, those times were very rare --- we have great kids!) I will have to admit that in those times of disobedience, it was easy to get frustrated and disappointed. If you have kids, or work with kids, you probably know what I mean.

 

As I’ve grown older and more mature in my walk with the Lord, I’ve come to gain a sense of what He must feel like when we disobey Him. I grew up knowing the 10 commandments and being expected to obey them. That’s all great, but I didn’t grow up knowing that the Lord would talk specifically to me, tell me to do things and expect me to do them! The understanding of that principle came later in my life. As with other things of the Lord, we get better as we learn and act on what we learn.

 

I know I’ve “missed” the Lord. I think you know what I mean --- the times when He told me to do something and I either didn’t, or did it later than I should have. I think there is a high cost to my disobedience --- I believe it blocks some of the blessings in my life. From a worldly perspective, I would equate this to the “if only I ____ then ____” syndrome. In those cases, I may know what I’m missing. But because I can never fully know what plans God has specifically for me, I may never realize what blessing I missed out on through my disobedience. That’s sad. I want to avoid that whenever possible.

 

Truthfully, creating this website was an act of obedience. I really sensed the Lord asking me to do it -- to share my story with others on a broad scale. Did I want to do it? Not really, except for wanting to be obedient. Was I afraid to do it? Yes. I had never created a website on my own like this and I was overwhelmed with the challenge. I was intimidated by it. The devil was working overtime on me, telling me that no one would read it, or care about what I write and it wouldn’t help anyone. Just so you know, I’ve learned God often asks us to do things we think we can’t. We learn to depend on Him that way. I have to trust that He has a purpose in mind and leave the results to Him. Time will tell. Meanwhile, I have to pray through every step of this.

 

I’ve learned, too, that besides asking us to do some challenging things, God may also I me to do something that doesn’t seem correct from a worldly way of thinking. For example, in early 2009, the Lord told me it was time for me to retire. I had a hard time believing I heard Him correctly, because from a “numbers” standpoint, I needed to work another five years to get what was considered a “full” pension at about 60% of my salary. From a worldly perspective, this seemed like kind of a silly idea, as I would lose half my pension by taking an earlier retirement. I had worked 35 years at that company and paid into my pension all those years. So the thought of losing half my monthly benefit, just didn’t feel right. (Again, I had to get over those feelings and walk by faith.)

 

I had to pray about the decision repeatedly. As I did, different changes on a variety of fronts within the company started coming to light. It became clearer and clearer that it probably was time for me to retire. I believe God orchestrated a number of things to help confirm for me what my decision should be. And so, in obedience, I retired in the summer of 2009. Many people were shocked, but there were some that agreed it was the right decision.

 

Did God fix it so that I received my full pension, as if I had worked another five years? No. But, He has provided for us and I’ve realized there are so many things I gained that cannot be measured by money. Here are just a few:

 

  • Time to sleep - I learned that I had a sleep deficit from working many hours each week and getting too little sleep each day while I was working. I slept nearly 12 hours or more each night for 7 months after I retired, just to catch up!
  • Time to help -- I was available to take care of my father-in-law when he got ill --- going to many doctors appointments, helping to document and explain to him all that was going on, helping my husband with his dad’s funeral and estate stuff, etc. Helping my father-in-law in this way was one of the most wonderful experiences and a blessing to me, as well as to others. I have no idea how I could have done all that I did, had I still been working. (Several relatives made similar remarks.)
  • Time to do His work -- I have more time to do what He’s gifted and called me to do (e.g., teach Sunday school with my husband, pray more, volunteer more at church, get involved in the community, travel, writing, etc.)
  • Time to draw close to Him -– In the time I have been retired, I have grown spiritually. I know I’m at a different place than where I would be if I had stayed working.
  • Time to renew my strength –- Overall, I am feeling healthier than I have in a long, long time.

 

Being obedient brings me countless blessings. I am so glad I learned this when I did! I have choices to make every day to be obedient to Him, or not. I need to choose well.

 

What is God telling you to do? It could be something as simple as writing a letter to someone, “cleaning up” your language, placing a call, helping at your church, making amends with someone you hurt or hurt you, staying out of strife, etc. Whatever it is, act on what He tells you --- you will be blessed and so will others around you! Remember, too, God will never ask you to do something that is contrary to His Word!!

 

Deuteronomy 30:9-10 “The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,10 if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (NKJV)

 

Deuteronomy 30:9-10 “The LORD your God will make you successful in everything you do. He will bless you with many children. He will bless your cows--they will have many calves. He will bless your fields--they will grow many good crops. He will be good to you. The LORD will again enjoy doing good for you, the same as he enjoyed doing good for your ancestors.10 But you must do what the LORD your God tells you to do. You must obey his commands and follow the rules that are written in this Book of Teachings. You must obey the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Then these good things will happen to you.” (ERV)

 

Job 36:11 “If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.” (NKJV)

 

Isaiah 1:19 “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.” (NKJV)

 

Jeremiah 38:20 “But Jeremiah said, "They shall not deliver you. Please, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.” (NKJV)

 

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (NKJV)

 

Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” (NKJV)

 

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.” (NKJV)

 

Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.” (NKJV)

 

Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." (NKJV)

 

Zechariah 6:15 “Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God." (NKJV)



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