We used to believe being obedient to the word of god has been just about following a rigid set of rules, but I've learned it's really more about developing a relationship than checking boxes. With regard to a long time, I viewed the Bible like a large handbook for how to stay away from directly into trouble. Merely did X, Y, and Z, i then was "good. " If I messed up, I used to be "bad. " But that kind of thinking is tiring, and to become honest, it misses the entire stage of what belief is supposed to look like.
Whenever we talk about obedience in a religious sense, it often carries this large, burdensome weight. We think of the stern authority number waiting for all of us to slip upward. But the more I've walked this particular path, the even more I've realized that will being obedient to the word of god is definitely actually an invitation to live a better, more peaceful life. It's not really about restriction; it's about protection plus alignment.
It's Not About Checking Off a Guidelines
Let's end up being real: nobody loves being told what to do. From the time we're toddlers, we have this "I'll perform it myself" mindset. So, when we all hear the word "obedience, " our own natural instinct is to push back. We worry that we're going to lose our freedom or that we're going to have got to stop getting fun.
But if you take a look at the instructions present in scripture, they will aren't there to dampen our spirits. They're more such as the guardrails upon a winding hill road. Those track aren't there to stop you through driving; they're presently there to keep a person from flying off a cliff. When we choose to be obedient to the word of god , we're essentially saying, "Okay, I trust that the Creator of the universe probably understands more about how life works than I do. "
It's the shift from legalism to love . If I'm only doing things mainly because I'm afraid of getting in trouble, that's not necessarily obedience—that's just compliance. True compliance originates from a location of trust. It's like when a friend you really regard gives you advice. You follow it because you understand they have your own best interests from heart, not mainly because they're forcing you to.
Listening Before You May Act
You can't be obedient to the word of god if you don't actually know exactly what it says. This particular sounds obvious, yet it's where the lot of all of us (myself included) tend to stumble. All of us rely on what we heard in the sermon three yrs ago or exactly what we see within a random social media post, rather compared to sitting down plus reading for ourselves.
I've found that the "listening" part is often harder than the "doing" part. Our own world is so extremely loud. Between function pings, news series, and the continuous hum of the internet, getting a quiet moment to really absorb scripture is a challenge. Yet obedience starts with a quiet coronary heart. It starts along with saying, "I'm going to put our own opinions aside for a 2nd and just listen. "
Making Room in the Sound
I'm not saying you need to get up with 4: 00 AM and study for three hours. For many of us, that's just not realistic. But finding little pockets of time to engage along with the word can make a huge distinction. Maybe it's five minutes over coffee or listening to an audio edition while you're stuck in traffic.
The goal isn't to earn a gold honor in Bible reading; it's to obtain the truth into your system so it can actually modify the way a person think. When the word of God becomes the "background music" of your own life, being obedient to the word of god starts to sense more like a natural reflex and less like a chore.
The "Why" Behind the Order
One of the biggest hurdles to obedience is usually when we don't understand the why . For example, the Bible talks a lot about forgiveness. There have already been times in our life when someone really hurt myself, and the last thing I desired to do was forgive them. It felt unfair. It seemed I has been letting them away from the hook.
But as I tried to become obedient to the word of god in that will area, I understood that forgiveness wasn't for the additional person's benefit—it has been for mine. Keeping that bitterness was just like drinking poison plus hoping the other person would get sick. God's "rule" about forgiveness had been actually a key to my own emotional freedom.
This applies to almost everything. Whether or not it's about how we handle the money, how we all treat our neighbors, or the way we handle our internal ideas, there's always a reason behind the instruction. God isn't a cosmic killjoy. He's a Dad who wants His kids to prosper.
Dealing with the Hard Things
Let's not sugarcoat it: occasionally being obedient to the word of god is incredibly difficult. Presently there are moments whenever what the Bible says directly contradicts what our culture says is "right" or "normal. "
We live in an entire world that prioritizes "living your truth" plus putting yourself very first at all expenses. Scripture often informs us to perform the opposite—to place others first, to be humble, and to seek a truth that is higher than our very own feelings. That's the tough pill to swallow. There will be instances when obedience feels like a sacrifice. You may have to walk aside from the relationship that will isn't healthy, or you may have to be honest in a situation exactly where a little whitened lie will be very much easier.
In those moments, I try to keep in mind that emotions are fickle . My emotions can change based on just how much sleep I got or the things i had for lunch time. But the word of God is steady. Choosing to be obedient to the word of god even if I don't "feel" like it is where real development happens. It's simple to be obedient when things are going great; it's the hard times that define our character.
Small Functions Matter Most
We often think of obedience in conditions of big, dramatic life changes. All of us think about moving to a different country or providing away all the possessions. Even though these things are excellent if that's exactly what you're called to do, for most of us, getting obedient to the word of god happens in the tiny, dull details of everyday life.
It's in the way you talk to the cashier who's having a bad day. It's within the decision not to join in on the office gossip. It's within how you spend your Saturday morning or how a person react when somebody cuts you away from in traffic. These types of "small" moments are actually the coaching ground. If we can't be obedient within the little items, we're probably not heading to be prepared for the big things.
I've noticed that whenever I focus upon these small serves, my overall perspective shifts. I begin looking for possibilities to reflect the character of God in my everyday routine. It becomes a mundane Tuesday into something that actually has everlasting significance.
Style for the Trip
If you're reading this and sensation overwhelmed, take the breath. Being obedient to the word of god isn't about getting perfect. If excellence were the requirement, we'd all become in a great deal of trouble.
The attractiveness of the Orlando faith is that will there is a good endless supply of grace. We're going to mess upward. We're going to be selfish. We're going to disregard that "still, small voice" and do our own own thing sometimes. But the goal isn't to by no means fail; it's to keep turning back.
Obedience is a direction, not a destination. It's about the constant choice to line-up existence with exactly what God has spoken. Every morning is usually a fresh start and a fresh chance to state, "Okay, I'm heading to try again today. "
When we approach this this way—with humbleness and also a reliance upon grace—being obedient to the word of god halts as being a heavy burden and starts becoming a source of real joy. It's about discovering that nice spot where our own will meets Their, and realizing that will His way had been actually the much better way all along.