There is a time to move.
There is a time to rest.
There is a time to mourn.
There is a time to rejoice.
But, there is never a time to walk in disobedience.
If I am honest, the word disobedience is a bit uncomfortable. I think of the child throwing a tantrum in the grocery store aisle. I consider the teenager who talks back or goes silent until they get their way. In the spiritual realm, I imagine those who refuse to accept God or who once knew God but have turned their back on the faith. When I think of disobedience, I rarely think of the churchgoer involved in ministry who appears to be overly involved in all things “good.” Yet, the last two years have taught me that just because I am involved in something “good” doesn’t mean I am in complete obedience to the Lord. In other words, if the Lord is leading me out of something and I hold onto it for dear life, I am walking in disobedience.
Like the child who is relentless about getting a piece of candy at the register, I too have been guilty of participating and leading things the Lord has called me to release. Whether it's taking that extra class at school, leading that ministry, or refusing to get out of a relationship, my choice to do what I want when I want is the opposite of walking in God’s will. And truly, I consider myself the most guilty of this sneaky attack of the enemy. I am afraid that in our quest to achieve status, get our education, make more money, or be a good person we often find ourselves miserable because we neglect to consult the Lord.
Could this be why we feel stuck?
Could this be why we never walk in true victory?
Could we be prying open doors that God has closed?
Better yet, how many opportunities from God have we unknowingly declined because we were “too busy” doing things He was removing from our lives! OUCH!
No matter what the case is, I believe the best way we can know that we are doing what God is calling us to do is to pray. Pray in the morning. Pray in the evening. Pray in the car. Pray in the shower. Pray while cooking. Pray while doing dishes. And when you pray, ask these simple words...
Lord, what is your will for my life today?
And, when He speaks listen. I love what Jesus says during His time on Earth.
For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. John 12:49
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. John 6:38
Yes! We must reach a point where we only say and do what the Lord tells us to say and do! This requires a choice to surrender ALL. Your ambitions, your timeline, your goals, your WILL! In my life, this has looked like me pausing to pursue another degree, it has looked like making the hard decision to shift friendships, and it has looked like me asking others to lead things in ministry that I hold dear to my heart. It has also looked like saying “Yes” when I thought I had too much on my plate, giving a relationship another chance, and starting something new when I wanted to quit.
My prayer for you today is that you establish this phrase in the depths of your soul
I only say and do what the Lord requires of me.
I am issuing you this warning.
This will lead you to have a quieter spirit as you lean on the Lord’s wisdom for how to use your words carefully (James 1:19-20)
This will drive you to pray more and worry less about the situation at hand (Philippians 4:6-10)
This will require you to forgive quickly. (Luke 6:37)
This will require you to change your lifestyle to one display the fruit of the Spirit and not the works of the flesh (Galatians 5)
This will require you to put down comparison, greed, and selfish ambition. (James 3:16)
This means you must pray often and fervently for your instructions from the Lord. (James 5:16)
This will cause you to put your faith into action. (James 2:14-26)
I believe that when we truly make a commitment to live a life fully devoted to Jesus. We will have favor. We will be less overwhelmed. We will see the fruit of our labor.
We will have victory!
For more on living a life of everyday victory, I invite you to purchase my new book Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart To Fight For Your Family's Faith or the Victory Walk: A 21 Day Devotional on Amazon today by clicking here. While you await your new book, head over to itunes, Spotify, Youtube or Amazon Music and sing out your victory with my latest single, "God Has Not Forgotten You."
Everything you wrote is so true! ❤️