Thank You for speaking to me today about obedience especially to You and Your commandments!
I was outdoor with my students for sports and games today when I saw how beautiful the sky was. It was beautiful because there were clouds on it that formed a simple but pleasing pattern. At that moment, a thought came to my mind.
"If you love Me, obey My commandments!"
It was as if I came up with the statement because I was bothered about my sins and thought life that I knew was unpleasing to You. So at that point of time, I knew I needed to jot the statement down and keep it with me as a reminder. It will definitely help me when I'm struggling with resisting temptations.
I did not have pen and paper with me, so I noted it in my mobile phone and put it in the standby mode where the wallpaper is. Now, as I think back, what better 'place', other than my mobile phone, is there to jot the statement down? After all, my phone follows me almost everywhere I go and I use it everyday (unfortunately as compared with my trusty Bible).
Just now, I checked my email and saw one from my dad's friend, Lee Lin. It was titled: "God is the God of Success". I did not read it immediately but chose to read chronologically from the latest email. When I finally came to that particular email, I knew IMMEDIATELY that the statement "If you love Me, obey My commandments!" was from You through the Holy Spirit!
The short email is as follows:
God is the God of SuccessToday God Is First Volume 2 by Os HillmanFriday, September 26, 2008"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth" (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Our God is a God of success. You are created to be a success. Success is rooted in our relationship with God, not in our abilities. When our abilities are separated from our relationship with God, success is short-lived. "All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you" (Deuteronomy 28:2-8). Sometimes God allows you to fail in order for you to succeed. Each of us must first experience our own death and resurrection from our old nature. This is for you to learn Who the source of true success is. You will be amazed how easy success will come when your life is in proper alignment with the purposes of God. Today, reaffirm your commitment to follow His ways in all that you do. This will ensure God's purposes will be fulfilled in you. |
Heavenly Father, indeed as You said in Your Word that we need to FULLY OBEY You and CAREFULLY FOLLOW all Your commands, You will set us high above all the nations on earth! By obeying Your commandments, I can also show my love to YOU! Thank you for speaking clearly to me after a season of not being able to hear from You.
I pray that I will be strong and choose to be Your obedient daughter. Please help me to overcome temptations as well. I know you will as you promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Thank you and I commit the above request in Jesus' name,
Amen!
