“If we want the Word of God to have authority in our life, there is only one way – obey it. If we want the Holy Spirit to have authority in our life, there is only one way – obey Him. If we always obey impulses of fear or doubt or resentment, what will have authority over our minds? Fear, and doubt and resentment.” Tom Marshall
I remember when I was a little girl (probably around 8 or 9 years old) and I loved riding my bike all throughout the neighborhood. I’d take detours, cross the main highway (sorry mom), go through people’s backyards, and wander wherever my little soul wanted to venture. My parents always told me what “not to do” and where “not to go”, but I’ve always been the one to wander off and live a little dangerously. I didn’t like listening to what I should and shouldn’t do. I wanted to just enjoy life and live free. When you are young you believe you are invincible and don’t think of the repercussions or consequences.
One day I decided to ride my bike in circles around our pool without picturing what might happen. My mom had already told me not to do so, but I didn’t understand why. I just thought it’d be fun! Who cares if I fell in and got a little wet?! Well as I was getting closer to the deep end, I cut the corner early and my tire missed the concrete…needless to say what happened next…I fell in the deep end. I remember being scared for my life because as I began to sink, my shoelace somehow got wrapped/tangled around the pedal and panic set in. I thought I was going to drown! Then I heard, “take off your shoe Julie.” I decided to obey this voice and immediately took it off and swam up out of the water to the steps. I could have drowned because I was disobedient to my parents, but even in my disobedience to them…I chose to obey this voice from within and walked away from what could have been a parent’s worst nightmare.
There have been many, many, many times I have chosen to disobey this voice. …The voice of my heavenly Father. Even in the midst of conviction I chose to do as I pleased, to do what Julie wanted to do, to live as Julie wanted to live. What amazes me so much is how He NEVER EVER left my side, even when I was at my lowest and darkest moments. He continually pursued me even in my disobedience to Him. There were times when nobody was there for me, yet He was persistent with loving me. I ignored Him, cussed Him, yelled at Him, and cried out to Him for not understanding things. I was so ugly to Him, but He still was there the entire time. Even when I didn’t think He was there….I look back now and clearly remember certain instances where I was lonely, abandoned, broken, beaten, and He was still whispering sweet words just as He did that day in the pool….”take off your shoe Julie”.
I chose almost 3 years ago (come January) to take off my shoes and allow Him to re-direct my steps and persistently pursue Him. It hasn’t been easy, but each day it does get easier and easier because now I choose to obey Him and the life he has blessed me with each day. I choose to follow His will and not my own. He’s led me to where I am today and thankful of what He is doing in my life as I now walk barefoot with Jesus.
“Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 1: 6, 9
Are you willing to surrender your way for His way? Are you clinging to your own control or clinging to His word? What do you feel you need to change in order to be more obedient towards God?
“The man that believes will obey; failure to obey is convincing proof that there is no true faith present. To attempt the impossible God must give faith or there will be none, and He gives faith to the obedient heart only.”
A. W. Tozer
