A Prayer for Increased Obedience
by Tammy Darling
Bible Reading:
“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 5:33, NIV
Listen or Read Below:
In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve one simple rule; they still managed to break it. Ultimately, they rejected God’s authority.
We all must make a personal decision to accept or reject God’s authority—and that includes those He’s put in authority over us. It is those who don’t believe they are accountable to anyone who live their lives haphazardly, unconcerned with rules; they don’t believe there is any good reason to obey rules.
We live in a society that emphasizes personal freedom. Any restriction is viewed with disdain. Rules, they say, create bondage. But the fact is that a world without rules would be a scary place to live. It wouldn’t take long before we would self-destruct.
Can you imagine what our country would be like if we didn’t have a Constitution? Can you conceive a major corporation functioning successfully without a mission statement? These guidelines determine how we live and interact with others.
Picture a soccer game with no rules. It might seem like fun at first, but before long, players are likely to get seriously hurt, which is why we have rules in the first place. God’s one rule, or instruction, to Adam and Eve was for their protection.
Consider what it would be like to drive without rules. Deaths would skyrocket. Or what if doctors didn’t have to abide by strict standards? I sure wouldn’t want a surgeon operating on me if that were the case.
While people generally expect rules in many areas, a willingness to obey them is another matter entirely. We seem to be born with a heart that rebels. But God expects obedience.
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV).
Many people consider the Bible to be little more than a book of rules they have no desire to follow. Yes, the Bible does have certain “rules,” but they are for our benefit.
When you buy a new vehicle, it comes with an owner’s manual. The manual is written by the people who designed the car to help you know how to use it, how to maintain it, and how to keep you safe.
For Christians, the Bible is our “owner’s manual.” And just as with a new vehicle, if we don’t do what the “manual” says, we can’t expect things to go well in our Christian walk.
Rules often have a negative connotation, but the giving of the Law was a loving act. The Israelites, after 400 years of slavery, did not know how to govern themselves or how to relate to God. The Law was given as a guide for living so that life would ultimately go well. Had the Law not been given, the Israelites would have essentially still been in bondage.
We once had a herd of American bison on our farm, with boundaries defined by a fence. We set these boundaries for our protection and for theirs. Viewed in this light, we can easily see that boundaries help, not hinder.
God does the same for us. His boundaries are for our own good. They are not meant to restrict us but to protect us. Rules establish boundaries that help create consistency and help to avoid chaos and confusion.
Obedience should never be activated because we want something in return. We obey, not so that God will show favor to us, but because God has already shown favor to us.
We tend to obey those we love, trust, and respect. Such characteristics foster allegiance. When we regularly contemplate all the Lord has done, our love, trust, and respect will increase, thus increasing our desire to obey as well.
When love is our motivation, God’s “rules” are not a heavy yoke but a natural response. Obedience is a response of gratitude toward the One who always has our best interests at heart.
Love motivates us to obey, and as a result, we experience love more fully. Behind every act of Christian obedience is the reality of the Almighty God.
God gave us rules to live by; He also gave us free will. The choice is ours to make. While God expects obedience, He will not force us to obey Him.
To obey or not to obey—that is the question we must answer countless times throughout our lives.
Let’s Pray:
Lord,
We give thanks for Your wisdom in establishing rules and boundaries for us to follow for our own good and for the good of others. We are grateful that when we obey, You bless us exponentially as we dive deeper into our relationship with You each day.
In Your Mighty Name, Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ben White
Tammy Darling is the author of 1,600 published articles and three books. She writes from her home in rural Pennsylvania.
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Was this resource helpful? Add Christianity.com as a trusted source for Biblical content.
