OBEDIENCE
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 4-6

"Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the Lord your God. Just obey them." Deuteronomy 4:2 NLT

"For we are righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us." Deuteronomy 6:25 NLT

Let me state up front, so that there is no question, so that you know there is no doubt--I wouldn't have picked these verses this morning for any reason.

They are heavy for a Monday morning. They are heart-pricking for a strong-willed gal like myself. They are too straight forward to be overlooked, made light of or disregarded.

They are just what I need. And, there are two of them--not just one!

You see, God and I have been having a battle of the wills here lately. Well, not so much Him--but you probably guessed that.

I want to obey Him. I truly do. But I want to do it when His ways and directions line up with what I want to do.

There, I said it. Obedience is easy for me when it goes along with my bent, my plans and my personality. Obeying Him is fun when the rewards are immediately poured into my life. Doing just what He asks is thrilling when the impact you made is evident as you are doing it. Following His lead is exciting when all things fall into place in my heart and my head.

But when it's a matter of doing it because He says? When obedience is not quickly rewarded? When following His instructions goes against everything in me? When the control is taken from my grasp and turned over to Him?

I'll be chewing on this morsel for the remainder of the week...savoring it some moments, choking it down others!