A Prayer for Joyful Obedience
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading:
"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:8-14 NIV
Listen or Read Below:
As believers, we know we have a Heavenly Father, who made us and has ordained each of our days (Psalm 139:16). We also know that He chastens those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Being chastened or disciplined is not pleasant. But when we obey and stop fighting the Lord, joy is the gift that follows.
We may be in situations right now that we do not like. It may be a difficult work situation, an extended time of unemployment, a long health battle for you or someone you love, a strained relationship, infertility, or drawn-out singleness.
When I am struggling, it does help me to look at Jesus’ life on earth. His brothers were against him, he was misunderstood, wrongly accused, beaten, had no place to lay his head, was acquainted with grief, and was a man of sorrow. Yet, look what Jesus said in John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
Hebrews 12:2 says, about Jesus, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus obeyed despite a grueling death, yet He knew that on the other side was joy.
Whatever we may be facing today, remember this is not the end of the story. You may need to take drastic measures: cut off an unequally yoked relationship, surrender the substance, whatever it may be, cut up the credit cards, or you may just need to block off a time to meet with the Lord each day. You may need to go back to some people who have been praying for you and apologize. Whatever needs to die in your life, remember, when we obey, joy awaits us.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Psalm 16:11.
Let's Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your sacrifice and for the example of Jesus’s obedience. Lord, Your word says that “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” If that is true of Jesus, how much more is that true for us? Help us to look at our circumstances as an avenue to know You better and to enjoy a deeper joy and peace with You when our momentary troubles pass.
Lord, please help us to meet with You each morning. Please order our steps. Help us to have hearts to love You, minds to know You, and wills to obey You. Lord, help us to take our eyes off of what is in front of us and to direct them to You. And when we can’t, we are calling on You, the lifter of our heads, to do what we cannot.
I want to pray, as Moses prayed, in Psalm 90:15, that you will “Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil.”
We love You. Help us to know You better each and every day.
Amen!
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/kieferpix
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Related Resource: "I AM" - A Lenten Journey with Jesus
When the world feels heavy, clarity isn’t always what we need most. Sometimes what we need is presence. In John 8:12, Jesus doesn’t promise all the answers. He promises Himself: “I am the light of the world.” Light doesn’t show us the entire path—it gives us enough to take the next step. It reminds us that we are not alone in the dark, and that God is present with us even when things feel uncertain. I’m praying this meditation reminds you that Jesus is present—and you don’t have to walk in the dark alone. This week’s guided Scripture meditation is part of my larger Lent series that invites you to slow down, listen, and follow the Light who leads to life.
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