Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Obedience - Not Always the Easy Thing

This verse is a comfort to me.  "This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go'." Isaiah 48:17

Sometimes, even after many, many years in a church, a place of service, a job, etc. God says to us that we have stayed long enough at this "mountain."  Move on.  God told the Israelite people -- "You have stayed long enough at this mountain.  Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Ammorites." (Deuteronomy 1:6-7)

I don't know about you, but I like my comfort zone and sometimes just want to stay right where I am.  I love my church family.  I love my places of service - teaching Sunday School, leading Women's Ministry, etc.  But, I want to be an obedient servant so, when God says, "move on, break camp and advance" then that is what I must do.

I wrote the following words in my Prayer Journal some time ago and they have proven to be so true.  "Do the right thing, (obey) - not always the easy thing."

God is always good.  He minded me how He told Abraham at the age of 75 to leave everything that was familiar and go to the land He would show him. (Genesis 12:1)  God promised to do wonderful things through him.  Now I'm no Abraham!!  And I haven't reached 75 yet, but I am in my later years and I do want to be God's obedient servant as Abraham was.

God is always good.  He reminded me of the verse in Isaiah 43:18 (KJV)  "Behold I am doing a new thing."  He also reminded me of Proverbs 20:24.  "A man's steps are directed by the LORD.  How then can anyone understand his own way?"  Believe me, I do not understand what God is doing, but I do trust Him and I am looking forward to the "new thing" He does in my life .

My Prayer:  May God direct our steps (and I know He will) and may we follow.