Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Obedience - No Matter the Cost

By: Shari A. Miller

Have you ever been at the point in your life when you knew it was time for a change?

Have you ever known that it was time to take the next step into the unknown, all for the glory of Christ?

Have you ever heard God say, "It's time for obedience - no matter the cost?"


Sister's we're at that point in our study, in chapter 3 of, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God," by Lysa Terkeurst

In this chapter Lysa talks about God wanting all of us, not just part, not just on Sundays, not just when we feel like it....he wants our body, mind, and soul, 100% of the time. This requires radical obedience on our part. It requires us to obey God, even when we may not want to; even when it means that we may have to let go of things that we think are very important to us.



Why you may ask?

"God is not interested in half our heart. He wants it all, and He wants to remove the things that stand in the way of that." - Lysa Terkeurst

Before I started reading this book, God had been speaking to me about some television shows that I needed to stop watching. I kept reasoning with God, saying, "Surely they aren't that bad, surely it won't matter if I watch it God?"

Wrong.

I even said, "God if you really want me to stop watching them, please confirm this to me somehow." Well, low and behold he did, through the process of reading this book. I just love how God works.

In this chapter Lysa told the story of how God had asked her to give up watching television, and to put her house up for sale. She thought she had heard God wrong, did he really want her to do this? Could it really matter if she stopped watching television? How could she put up her families beloved house up for sale? What would her husband think? It turned out that, yes, God did want her to obey him in these areas. It was all for the purpose of being put through the refiners fire so that she could learn how to serve him fully with her whole heart.

Times like these, are usually not easy. The times when God wants us to dig down deep and strip off anything that would get in the way of serving him.

"God wants us to know if we're willing to give up what we love to Him who wants us more. He desires for us to open our fists and trust Him with absolutely everything." - Lysa Terkeurst



"God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God- honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness." Titus 2:11-14 (MSG)





"One thing you can be assured of is that God has already worked out all the details of what your obedience will accomplish-and it is good. We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss. The sooner this truth resonates in your heart, the quicker you can make peace with a command from God that you don't fully understand." - Lysa Terkeurst 

This is all part of a process friends. All part of a process of being made more and more in his image for the purpose of becoming a child of God that is completely and full sold out for Christ. God has spoken to my heart during this new year that he has blessed us with. He wants me to make my relationship with him the most important thing in my life. He wants me to get rid of anything that will hinder me from serving him. He wants me to obey him, no matter what. He wants me to focus on him and all that he has called me to do. He doesn't want apathy anymore. He wants me to have a deep passion and love for serving him. I am excited for life and where this journey will lead and I know that I can fully trust this adventure in the hands of our creator.

What about you? Has God called you to give up anything that may get in the way of serving him? 

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4 (NIV)



Photo Credit: bangdoll via photopin CC


It is time for our Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesday Link Up. We desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories in their comments.

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