Obey My Voice

Increasing Your Obedience

Exodus 19:5 

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”


In my last meditation, I gave many reasons for being motivated to obey God's revealed will. However, you can be as motivated as you want, but still not know how to obey His law. It is very difficult, and requires more than just setting your mind to doing it. The following directions will set out some ways for increasing your obedience to God. 

Firstly, avoid those environments and situations that are tempting and dangerous for your soul. Avoid them as much as possible. It is likely that God will call you into such situations sometimes in your life, and it would be foolish to decline God's call. He will bring you safely through it if He calls you to it (1 Corinthians 10:13). However if you rush into it willingly, you are in great danger. It is dangerous to be under a constant stream of sin, as it is likely to erode your conscience, make you weary of resisting, and diminish your hatred of sin by small, unnoticeable degrees, before you yield to it completely. Withdraw yourself from such conditions, like the withdrawing of fuel puts out a fire.

The chief bait that Satan uses is your happiness. Satan dresses sin to look pleasurable and joyous. Therefore, be suspicious and watchful of whatever you find most pleasure in. This doesn't mean that all you take pleasure in is sin. Rather, examine it closely to see whether it is Godly pleasure or pleasure of the flesh. Believers turn away from God to chase pleasure elsewhere. They don't chase evil or sorrow. That's no bait. So Satan disguises evil as good, and disguises sorrow as pleasure. Be warned: don't be sucked in by the devil's bait. Don't part with infinite pleasure for the unholy temporary pleasures of this world. See it for what it really is.

In order to obey God's law, it is important that you resist sin while it is little and weak. When disobedience first rears its head, it is a small and weak spark that can be easily snuffed out. However, it quickly grows stronger and harder to resist. Spot sin while it is still in early stages, and put it out by the power of grace.

It is important to know what the will of God is in order to live by it. When we are sure of our duty, it makes it a lot easier to accomplish. Likewise, if we are sure what is sinful, it makes it easier to resist. Therefore Satan attacks our understanding, and our minds, and those around us, say, “There is no hurt or sin in this.” If we know God's law thoroughly, we will thoroughly know what is right and wrong, and therefore be in prime condition to live according to His law. That means reading the Word diligently, and praying for guidance in all situations.

Be aware of your attitude towards obedience. Your corrupt nature can cause you to become complacent about obedience, or unconfident of success. Both are dangerous. Complacency can cause carelessness and inattentiveness; and if obedience seems impossible or tiresome, you will be reluctant to try, and will be vulnerable to every attack. Don't become complacent. Don't think you can't succeed. Pray to God to give you the right frame of mind for obedience.

Prayer is the final, but certainly not the least important, direction for increasing obedience. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Without God working in you, your soul will be vulnerable to every attack. Without His sanctifying work, you would be unable to resist any unlawfulness. Thank Him for it, and continue to ask Him for it, until the day when obedience will come naturally to us, and we will dwell in perfect willing subjection to Him.

Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 12:28)

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- Submit to Him