Blessings through obedience

The longer I live as a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more I believe in God’s blessings, and that the all-powerful, all-knowing God, without Whom nothing would exist, wants us to be blessed, to be full, to be healthy, to be whole. We are His, and as He explains through Luke in His scriptures, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” I believe that God is explaining to His children, and even more specifically to parents, that if you long to give good things to your children and comply with what they ask if it’s in their best interest, why would the Father, being holy and perfect, not do the same, or a million times more than that.

Ever since I accepted God’s gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit, I have been able to understand God’s way and His word in a way that I was not able to before. This is not surprising as it’s written in 2 Corinthians 3:16 that “whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Ever since this remarkable, life-changing instance, I believe that I have more understanding of God’s law—it’s purpose and importance. As the Lord spoke to me this morning, mainly through Psalm 119, I felt that I gained even more understanding about the blessings that come through obedience to His way and His law.

When it comes to blessings through obedience, we must remember that God’s ways and His thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). They are perfect. This means that a blessing through obedience could look very different than receiving some desired material item because you follow God’s laws, or things going exactly the way that you want. I do not believe that being a child of God means that our entire lives will run smoothly and be trouble-free. That is not what the Word teaches us, and thankfully we do not have to win our salvation or His blessings through our actions or performance.  However, I do believe that one great function of God’s laws is to protect us and to prosper us, that He wants us to keep His precepts because it is the best for us and because it brings glory to the King of Glory.

I remember shortly after becoming a Christian, about four years ago, the Holy Spirit began revealing all of this to me. He said, “Mallory, I want you to stop doing this thing because it’s hurting you and I don’t want that. I love you.” (Whenever I feel that I’m hearing God’s voice, it’s all about His love for me- Glory be to His great name.) As we begin eliminating certain sins from our lives, we begin to receive God’s blessings. I do not believe that God is watching down on us from heaven and when we start living life according to His laws, He gives us something we want as a pat on the back. Or that He punishes us if we start veering from His path as a spanking on the butt. However, it is quite logical that the “rules and regulations” that the perfect Lord God Almighty gave to us when we became imperfect are perfect in themselves. So, if we follow them and are obedient to them and to His voice in our lives, we will receive that blessing that is ours to keep in Christ Jesus.

As a quick example, recently I have wanted to wake up earlier to spend more time with God, praying, reading His word and meditating. I know this is something God wants for me as He speaks countless times in His word about making Him first in our lives. When I am tired and want to spend a few more minutes in bed, or when I’d rather use that time exercising and do not take the time to be with Him, my day goes differently. My heart and spirit are not as joyful, peaceful, or calm. When I do take that time in the morning, I am blessed. I do not receive anything material and my day is not mess free, but it does go differently because of my attitude and reaction to everything. This is 100% from the Lord-- the benefit of focusing on Him before I engage in anything, and just one example of the blessings that come from seeking Him and following His word. Whenever I feel that the Lord is leading me away from something or toward something, if I am obedient to that, the blessing is just there: HIS blessing.

Yes, God brought me back to this theme in the morning through Psalm 119, and what a beautiful prayer it is for His children.

I am laid low in the dust,

Preserve my life according to your word.

I recounted my ways and you answered me;

Teach me your decrees.

Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;

Then I will meditate on your wonders.

My soul is weary with sorrow;

Strengthen me according to your word.

Keep me from deceitful ways;

Be gracious to me through your law.

I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set my heart on your laws.

I hold fast to your statues, O Lord;

Do not let me be put to shame.

I run in the path of your commands,

For you have set my heart free.

 

Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees;

Then I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law

And obey it with all my heart.

Direct me in the path of your commands,

For there I find delight.

Turn my heart toward your statues

And not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things,

Preserve my life according to your word.

Psalm 119:25-37 NIV

God bless you and keep you.