Obedience with a Joyful Heart

As I am reading in Genesis 2, I get to the part where God tells man that he can’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  In the back of my mind I think to myself why was this tree even in the Garden of Eden?  It seems to me that by God saying don’t eat of it we as humans would be more curious and therefore tempted by it.

Since my Bible is a Study Bible I looked to the notes on it as to what question and answers they may have on the topic.  The light bulb so to speak went off in my head.  It wasn’t so much there as something just randomly out of place.  It was a test!  God didn’t want blind obedience or love from us.  He wants us to make the conscious decision to obey Him.  He wants us to make the conscious decision to love Him as a father, as someone who loves us unconditionally.

We find it easiest to love God and be obedient when He doesn’t ask us for something that is outside our comfort zone.  But what about when God asks us for something that is outside of our comfort zone?  Do we let Him stretch us and grow into a more mature relationship with Him in obedience and love?  Or do we turn our back and run the opposite direction thinking that it is too much for us?

God can do all things… and if we have a relationship with God then we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!  So why are we fearful of the changes?  Why are we so scared to step out in faith?  Especially when it is that faith that will be seen by others and could bring them to God?  Is it because when we take that step of faith we forget to take God on the journey with us and feel that it is all on our shoulders to do what needs to be done?   I often times marvel at how hard I make things for myself.   I didn’t go into it with a joyful heart to do God’s will… but I did it with obedience.  But growing in my relationship with God I have and am still learning that by doing it with a joyful heart that doesn’t murmur, “why me?”  I am being more obedient and showing my faith better than just going through whatever it is that God has set before me.

What I need to remember is that if God is for me who can stand against me and be victorious?  So what do I need to worry about?  Making the right choices of obedience and love!  So how did I start that this year?  I started by reading my Bible at least an hour a day.  Spending time with Him and letting Him speak to me.  Listening to what He wants for me and of me!  It’s as simple and as hard as that.

As I am writing this out I have this lyric running through my head that our worship leader sings … “I walk by faith, each step I take, I put my trust in You!”  I just need to keep singing and praising Him through all the ways that He grows me so that I can show my faith, trust and obedience to Him.  He will never let me go!!