Lately, the Lord has been speaking to me about the weighty topic of obedience.
Our trust in God and our response of obedience matters to Him, because it impacts how we live, how we influence others, and how we advance His kingdom.
Jesus said, "If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands" (John 14:15, AMPC). He went on to say that He wasn't leaving us to obey Him on our own, He was sending us a helper - the Holy Spirit. Our part is to be willing and to say yes, and to keep being willing, and to keep saying yes.
Are we keeping His commands, His ways? Are we obeying Him and chasing the desires of His heart - in spite of fear, or being uncomfortable, or concern for what others might think?
Our obedience will likely cost us some of these things, but isn't being close with God and being a part of what He is doing in these last days worth it? Isn't He worth it?
What small thing, or massive thing is the Lord calling you to do? What is it He's asking of you, to carry out in His name? Our obedience pleases Him. It honors Him. It can inspire others. Our response matters! We're either responding in obedience with a 'Yes, Lord', or in disobedience, saying, 'Not now; I'm afraid; I don't want to be uncomfortable; what will others think?'
In prayer and Bible study recently, I heard this message from the Lord, to share with His body. I believe it is for us who believe and have decided to lay down our lives in obedience, while humbly seeking His help, and longing for His provision and light for the way.
I pray it encourages and strengthens you to take the next step of faith - in obedience to the One who is so worthy of our every 'Yes'!
Love you!
Denae
I heard the Lord say:
Listen to what I have to say.
Holy ones hear the words of My mouth.
"How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103, NKJV)
Holy ones obey what I say.
"The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.
And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.
I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him" (John 14:21, CSB).
They see what I reveal.
They do what I show.
I am seated in the high and lofty place.
But I am also with the lowly of heart.
"He said, 'Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,
remove every obstacle from My people's way.'
For the High and Exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is holy, says this: 'I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed'"
(Isaiah 57:14-15).
Come and sit with Me and see who I am.
Come and taste and find that what I give is good.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in Him! You who are His holy ones, fear the LORD,
for those who fear Him lack nothing" (Psalm 34:8-9).
Together, we will sit at a table and feast - before your enemies.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live" (Psalm 23:5-6).
There will be laughing and joy
instead of mourning and sorrow.
"to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and
splendid clothes instead of despair.
And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify Him" (Isaiah 61:3).
A day will come when you will see - Me - as I really am,
"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known" (1 Cor. 13:12).
until that day, feast.
Feast on Me, with Me, near Me.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled" (Matt. 5:6).
Feast for Me - because I want others to see
how good it tastes to be with Me.
"He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).
Hold on. Wait with patient obedience.
"I wait for the LORD; I wait and put my hope in His word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning - more than watchmen for the morning" (Psalm 130:5-6).
For I am coming soon.
"You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him
at once. Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants" (Luke 12:36-38).