Day Sixty Seven: Practicing Obedience in the Midst of A Storm
Some are now telling me that it will get worse before it gets better. I am choosing not to give into that fear. It is difficult to practice obedience in the midst of a storm. I have struggled unsuccessfully not to let my feelings spread all over the page. I feel like there is a tight collar around my neck, and it's choking me. The Lord is telling me that I am free to choose which way I should go. Everyone has that opportunity too. Some are trying desperately to block those who would be free. I see that clearly. Unfortunately it is the very ones that we should be obeying that are blocking our freedom.
Yes, I am having a very hard time obeying ridiculous edicts that aren't helping. Yes, I do have enough common sense to understand what's happening and why. I do have to obey God's voice though. He is telling me deep inside that what's happening is very wrong. I am also doing what he's laid on my heart to do. Admittedly I am scared, and have been in prayer about what I should do. I have assurance though as I read in Exodus 23:22(KJV) "but if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."
The one thing that this crisis has brought to my eyes is that I've gotten too comfortable with the church rituals. I really wasn't listening to God. It has been a wake up call for me to really get into his word. I don't want to stop that once this crisis is completely over. I read in 1 Samuel 15:22(KJV) these words: "and Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." I realize that going to church "just because" is not going to "cut it" for me anymore. I understand all the more why church buildings exist and the importance of having a place to meet with fellow Christians. You may say that you really don't need a church building to meet fellow believers. You are right, but having a solid and stable entity helps. Established physical churches fill a need that no amount of online church services can. It is the one thing that I've been missing the most during this time when most of the churches have been closed.
I think the hard thing for me is that sense that there is no mooring. It is increasingly difficult to practice obedience when you have no focus or connection. Repetition is good when you are saturated by the word of God, and you have godly ministers who physically help you. This is also missing.
Isaiah 1:19(KJV) puts it this way..."If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." How true that is! For me it is a daily practice of prayer and reading the word that keeps me sane. You can't be obedient if you just don't know what God is saying. Matthew 7:21 (KJV) states this: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." There are a lot of mixed messages going around, and unfortunately many are being deceived by them. An established church with a clear biblical message will combat these messages. I suspect that many of the Internet only preachers are very guilty of proclaiming these false messages. I shudder when I think about this too deeply. I have to reject those messages and pray for those who are subject to them that they may see the truth. I believe like Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:29 (KJV) that "we ought to obey God rather than men."
Please understand this. I know that there are so many mixed messages out there. Satan and his minions are great at deception and deceit for monetary gain and power. They're doing it right now and are currently being exposed. Everyone still has a choice. Romans 6:16 (KJV) asks and answers this question by stating: "know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" The wages of sin is death. Our country has sinned grievously, yet the Lord is holding out a beacon of hope for us. We can chose to be obedient to what the Lord says in his word. It won't be easy. Practicing obedience when it seems like you have no moorings is hard work.
Ephesians 6:5-9 (KJV) says this: "For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Yes...there are going to be days that you just don't want to move forward. I get that. Yet we can't lose hope that God will work miracles here if we trust him and lean on him.
Knowing that some day we will reap a bountiful reward is incentive enough to be obedient to the Lord's prodding. I am thankful for the Word and for God's precious promises that are new every morning.
Yes, I am having a very hard time obeying ridiculous edicts that aren't helping. Yes, I do have enough common sense to understand what's happening and why. I do have to obey God's voice though. He is telling me deep inside that what's happening is very wrong. I am also doing what he's laid on my heart to do. Admittedly I am scared, and have been in prayer about what I should do. I have assurance though as I read in Exodus 23:22(KJV) "but if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."
The one thing that this crisis has brought to my eyes is that I've gotten too comfortable with the church rituals. I really wasn't listening to God. It has been a wake up call for me to really get into his word. I don't want to stop that once this crisis is completely over. I read in 1 Samuel 15:22(KJV) these words: "and Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." I realize that going to church "just because" is not going to "cut it" for me anymore. I understand all the more why church buildings exist and the importance of having a place to meet with fellow Christians. You may say that you really don't need a church building to meet fellow believers. You are right, but having a solid and stable entity helps. Established physical churches fill a need that no amount of online church services can. It is the one thing that I've been missing the most during this time when most of the churches have been closed.
I think the hard thing for me is that sense that there is no mooring. It is increasingly difficult to practice obedience when you have no focus or connection. Repetition is good when you are saturated by the word of God, and you have godly ministers who physically help you. This is also missing.
Isaiah 1:19(KJV) puts it this way..."If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." How true that is! For me it is a daily practice of prayer and reading the word that keeps me sane. You can't be obedient if you just don't know what God is saying. Matthew 7:21 (KJV) states this: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." There are a lot of mixed messages going around, and unfortunately many are being deceived by them. An established church with a clear biblical message will combat these messages. I suspect that many of the Internet only preachers are very guilty of proclaiming these false messages. I shudder when I think about this too deeply. I have to reject those messages and pray for those who are subject to them that they may see the truth. I believe like Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:29 (KJV) that "we ought to obey God rather than men."
Please understand this. I know that there are so many mixed messages out there. Satan and his minions are great at deception and deceit for monetary gain and power. They're doing it right now and are currently being exposed. Everyone still has a choice. Romans 6:16 (KJV) asks and answers this question by stating: "know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" The wages of sin is death. Our country has sinned grievously, yet the Lord is holding out a beacon of hope for us. We can chose to be obedient to what the Lord says in his word. It won't be easy. Practicing obedience when it seems like you have no moorings is hard work.
Ephesians 6:5-9 (KJV) says this: "For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Yes...there are going to be days that you just don't want to move forward. I get that. Yet we can't lose hope that God will work miracles here if we trust him and lean on him.
Knowing that some day we will reap a bountiful reward is incentive enough to be obedient to the Lord's prodding. I am thankful for the Word and for God's precious promises that are new every morning.
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