Obedience is....

Everyone knows the song, "Obedience is, the very best way, to show that you believe." My kids sang that at school last year in their program, and it affected me deeply.
"To obey is better than sacrifice.." (1 Samuel 15:22) "The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom" says Proverbs...
There are more verses than I can count in His word about fearing The Lord, obeying His commands and following His will.
Jesus wants all of me. He wants my obedience, and O the peace that will flood in and does flood in, when I live out my days in the way He desires.
He does not want my sacrifices, He does not want me to say, "O Lord, I'll give away all my possessions to demonstrate my love for you.." He may say, " All I want you to do is to offer to babysit that single mom's kids..."
But in my mind, I always am trying to come up with the perfect offering to Him, to show Him my undying love. He says, "No, Just obey me. When I say don't buy those expensive clothes, then don't do it. When I say, stay up late and spend time with me, do it.."
He never makes demands of us that don't make sense in the span of His eternity. He is perfect. Wise, and all knowing. SO when He convicts us or asks us for action we ought to obey. It's not difficult in theory, but sometimes obedience is uncomfortable, or "inconvenient"  but it's best we obey.
Obedience brings life to our bodies and peace to our hearts...
He may ask you to speak up about His name in a circle of friends that does not esteem Him. That can be uncomfortable. But obey, because the blessing that follows in various forms of peace and growth, will astound you. (and me)
Being obedient does not always take great strenuous action, (although at times it may)  it usually just requires  we do what He has asked.
This is why it's important to give Him our days, He has them already, but to offer Him our days, and say, "Speak Lord, Your servant is listening." And then do what He says.
O the peace that would overtake my life if I offered Him my every moment like this. But more often than not I am too busy. I'm moving to fast, and asking Him not of His desires for my moments and days.
Let me bless others with my words. Let me speak when He says, "speak." Let me move when He says, "move." I wonder how much better my days would flow if I did this.
My guess is the change would be astounding. I've seen Him move and breath in and through my day and it makes such a difference when I flow with Him, rather than against Him.
I believe when I live with an attitude of obedience, I am always watchful. I am always waiting to hear  His voice. "Move me Lord, lest I not be moved." I want to move and the impulse of His love. Not that I am paralyzed without Him, but my peace is blacked out when I fail to listen and obey.
IF there was ever a time in your life when you said "God said No..." but you proceeded in your own way, recount your steps. Go back to the place where He said No, and start over. Isn't that amazing about Him?? His grace is sufficient, even when we first did not obey. Now, we may face repercussions from our past mis-steps, because we live in a world where consequences happen in the natural sense from mistakes made. BUT, He will forgive us, forget our sin,  and use us to further His Kingdom, taking the pain of our sins to encourage others who are in danger of falling. This is how He takes the things that the enemy intended for evil and uses it for good.
"He will keep in perfect peace the one who's mind is steadfast  because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

"If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction." Psalm 119:92

God in His goodness, sees us in our humble estate, offers us guidance, helps and sustains us in and through every day here on earth.
If you are believer, earth is closest you'll ever get to hell. God knew this earth would be a challenging place to live for us as believers, because sin runs rampant here, so HE gave us His word, and His Holy Spirit to lead and direct us, to give us a better way.
Obedience is the very best way, to show that you believe.

"In fact, this is love for God; to keep His commands, and His commands are not burdensome." 1John 5:3

The Consistent Parent (short devotional)

Jesus, my example, is consistent by nature.
I however struggle with consistency. I don't use a cookbook, I hate plans, and routines are my enemy. So why O why does The Lord call me by name? Because He is in the business of making people who don't look like Him, look a lot more like Himself.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

The one place I need consistency the most, is in my parenting. I need to learn from Jesus in all things, because in Him all things hold together (Ephes 4) but also because He alone can  supply me with the patience, gentleness, and kindness that I need to be the type of Mommy that He wants me to be. I need to learn from Him, glean from His word, and fill up on Him before I step foot into my parenting role. TO get His word inside my heart, I pray for protected time with Him. (uninterrupted) so that I can gather all the goodness I need to be who I know only He can make me to be, (so I don't lash out at my loved ones)
We start out each day as Mothers with the best of intentions, but truly, when 10pm hits, we're all in bad shape usually. (at least I am)
We are by nature not eternally consistent.
God can create this consistency in us. Not by any strength of our own though mind you. Rather, by His grace He supplies us strength in our weakness, and fills our empty starving souls with the strength, ability, know-how and fuel to be the parent that brings God glory in all things. Because He does after all, make all things hold together.
My two verses that I want to be IN ME, are this:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

AND....

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2 NIV)

Aren't those great verses?

And unless I pray for the strength to apply them, and infiltrate them into my life they remain His word on a page.

Dear Lord,
This day is yours and all that is in it. Bring these attributes to mind as I am reaching that place in my day where human strength begins to fail, it may be in 5 hours, or five minutes. But regardless, Jesus, I need thee every hour. You are the strength I hold too, the grace I need, the fuel that fills me up to be the parent you want me to be. 
You God are my source, and my sustenance. I need you more that anything else.
SO when the rubber meets the road, be my road. Be the highway to consistency. You are GOD and I earnestly seek you. Thank you JESUS that you are all I need. 
Amen 

(Feel free to make this little prayer yours today as well.)