Well, it happened again. Remember in my last post how I talked about God trying to get a message across to you? How I kept reading and hearing the same thing over and over? God keeps repeating Himself to try to get his point across to me, and I'm slowly learning how to see that.
This time, He's telling me to walk in obedience.
Through my daily Bible reading, I'm reading things I've never read before and never thought about reading. I never really had the desire to read Deuteronomy. I thought it was just another tough to read Old Testament book. And it is, but I've come to realize it's also so much more than that. I've learned more in the past 3 months reading through my Bible than I ever thought I could. Because instead of just going to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, I'm actually digging into the Word. I'm daily (well, almost daily; sometimes I get behind and have to catch up on a day or two) reading a few chapters of my Bible. I'm not just hitting the high points and the common "favorite Bible verses". I'm really getting into the good stuff.
So as I was reading Deuteronomy, a phrase kept popping up and sticking out to me. And when I saw it more than once, I knew it had to be important. That phrase was "walk in obedience".
Deuteronomy 5:33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Deuteronomy 19:9 because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today-to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him
Deuteronomy 30:16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees, and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
Those 3 verses spread out in a book with a common phrase. Stuff like that sticks out to me. So then I had to reflect on it. Am I walking in obedience? Do I love God so much that I am obedient to Him? Of course not. Some of those verses I was reading were from catching up on some days I missed. I wasn't daily digging into the word. If something came up, I put off my Bible reading knowing I could read 2 days worth the next day. That's not being obedient.
I've seen the phrase, "You always have time for whatever you put first," and that's definitely the truth in my life. Tonight I put my homework project that isn't due for a couple weeks before reading my Bible (and getting caught up on a couple more days I've missed).
And my disobedience doesn't stop there. Do you ever hear a small voice in your head telling you to pay for someone's meal, call someone to check up on them, go speak to a stranger, or just do something nice, and you don't do it? I believe that small voice is God telling you something to do, even if it's something small. And what about our little white lies, gossiping, and breaking rules, no matter how small they may be? I can always find ways that I'm not walking in obedience. But I've never thought about it all that much till I read it 3 times. (I'm gonna have to learn to listen to God so He can stop repeating Himself to me)
So I've written that little phrase on a note card and stuck it on my mirror, computer, and have it as my phone background. I need a daily reminder to walk in obedience. I know God has great things planned for me. I must walk in obedience with Him and let His will be done in my life.
This time, He's telling me to walk in obedience.
Through my daily Bible reading, I'm reading things I've never read before and never thought about reading. I never really had the desire to read Deuteronomy. I thought it was just another tough to read Old Testament book. And it is, but I've come to realize it's also so much more than that. I've learned more in the past 3 months reading through my Bible than I ever thought I could. Because instead of just going to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, I'm actually digging into the Word. I'm daily (well, almost daily; sometimes I get behind and have to catch up on a day or two) reading a few chapters of my Bible. I'm not just hitting the high points and the common "favorite Bible verses". I'm really getting into the good stuff.
So as I was reading Deuteronomy, a phrase kept popping up and sticking out to me. And when I saw it more than once, I knew it had to be important. That phrase was "walk in obedience".
Deuteronomy 5:33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Deuteronomy 19:9 because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today-to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him
Deuteronomy 30:16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees, and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
Those 3 verses spread out in a book with a common phrase. Stuff like that sticks out to me. So then I had to reflect on it. Am I walking in obedience? Do I love God so much that I am obedient to Him? Of course not. Some of those verses I was reading were from catching up on some days I missed. I wasn't daily digging into the word. If something came up, I put off my Bible reading knowing I could read 2 days worth the next day. That's not being obedient.
I've seen the phrase, "You always have time for whatever you put first," and that's definitely the truth in my life. Tonight I put my homework project that isn't due for a couple weeks before reading my Bible (and getting caught up on a couple more days I've missed).
And my disobedience doesn't stop there. Do you ever hear a small voice in your head telling you to pay for someone's meal, call someone to check up on them, go speak to a stranger, or just do something nice, and you don't do it? I believe that small voice is God telling you something to do, even if it's something small. And what about our little white lies, gossiping, and breaking rules, no matter how small they may be? I can always find ways that I'm not walking in obedience. But I've never thought about it all that much till I read it 3 times. (I'm gonna have to learn to listen to God so He can stop repeating Himself to me)
So I've written that little phrase on a note card and stuck it on my mirror, computer, and have it as my phone background. I need a daily reminder to walk in obedience. I know God has great things planned for me. I must walk in obedience with Him and let His will be done in my life.