“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:2-5).

When you start getting serious about your spirituality, you will soon confront whether or not you will be obedient. When you know what you should do, but you do not do it, and choose not to do it, and you plan never to do it, now, if that is the case, then you are in error. In a sense, your faith has been tested and you have been found wanting (Ouch!).

Sin

Known areas of disobedience vary and excuses are many. You know when this is you by the persistent nudge of the Holy Spirit, and by the consistent confirmation in God’s Word. Some things we know are wrong. We know when we choose to do them, anyhow, then we are sinning against God.

Gray Areas

Other behaviors are in those gray areas. Those activities that are not spelled out. I suggest that if it feels wrong, you are better off to not do it. Your conscience is speaking to you. Some things I can’t do that other believers do. That doesn’t mean I’m better than they are, only that I am more sensitive in that area. For example, I don’t watch violent movies or movies with sex scenes. I just can’t. For me, being “pure in heart” is something to strive for.

Ignoring the Issue

Other areas in life cause our hearts to become hardened by ignoring the whispers of the Holy Spirit. When you repeatedly turn from doing the right thing, from obeying the Spirit of God, then you are choosing a wrong thing. Other areas of sin, such as hidden sins, we might need to ask God to reveal to us. We can’t see these on our own. Our vision is dulled.

Maybe this post has hit a nerve, then listen to that still small voice and choose to deal with it. Believe it or not, this is freeing.

Childhood Effects

Some areas require God’s help. You can’t overcome them in your own strength. They are too hard or have their hooks in you. Maybe they are learned behaviors that stem from childhood. They can even be patterns in the mind caused by word curses that enrage and mess with you. You try to be obedient but you fall and you fail. You hate your anger but seemingly haven’t been able to curb it. That’s a place to start looking into your why: Why you do what you do. This is constructive and instructive. It serves us better than looking at other people and proceeding to judge why they do what they do.

My friend’s mother was an angry Christian, and she had reason. She had been told by her mother that she was ugly from an early age, on up. She grew up believing she was ugly. She acted angry, arrogant, and distant, giving little love and affirmation to others or to her children. She recently passed on, never having realized her worth and value. What a shame. Her daughter is still unpacking the rejection she felt from her mother. Yet, my friend is a warm, loving person. Thankfully, she’s broken the curse that entrapped her mother.

What If?

What if her mother had confronted the lie that she had believed as a young child.? What if she had trained her mind to think on what is lovely, pure, honorable, and of a good report? What if she had sought her own spiritual healing? Might her life have been happier, free-er, better? I think so. Maybe, this is you. It seems so unfair. What’s happened to you is not your fault. You have damaged emotions caused by others mistreatment of you.

You can embrace your healing. You can strive for spiritual cleansing. You can reach out to God, and He won’t turn you away. Spiritual obedience frees our soul from sins of self-will, rebellion, lust, deceit, revenge, laziness, gluttony, wrong thoughts, wrong-minded choices, and an unforgiving heart. It also confronts the graver sins like cheating, stealing, adultery, fornication, abuse, and the mistreatment of others–anything that does not please God.

Obedience is for Our Own Good

C. S. Lewis writes, “The Christian, in relation to heaven, . . . have not yet attained everlasting life in the vision of God doubtless know very well that it is no mere bribe, but the very consummation of their earthly discipleship: but we who have not yet attained it cannot know this in the same way, and cannot even begin to know it at all except by continuing to obey and finding the first reward of our obedience in our increasing power to desire the ultimate reward (heaven) (The Weight of Glory, p. 28).

As God purifies our life, and as we let Him, we are being transformed. Then, as we obey His commands in the right spirit, they go from seeming onerous to becoming a route to peace that’s for our own good. God’s commands are for our own good, and produce in us that which is good. They are a gift to us. When He commands us to love one another, it is a righteous command that gets at the heart of true spirituality. God is making us whole and complete. One of the tools He uses is our sensitivity to Him and His word.

Peace

If you want to draw closer to God, you must make a clean sweep of whatever blocks your relationship with God. When we deal with these areas, instead of ignoring them, then communication freely flows between you and God. Nothing hinders your relationship. The barriers have come down. When you obey God, you are doing the right thing in the right spirit which produces a right relationship with God.

God loves us. He desires to complete his work in us. He keeps showing us the next thing, so we can get it behind us and keep moving forward. We must look at ourselves with fresh eyes every so often. It’s like taking inventory. Then we can spot where we’re being stubborn, where we are tenaciously holding on to our pride, our view points, and where we fall short.

You will discover it is a delight to love, trust, and obey. That you are happiest when you allow God full access in your life. To follow God with a purity of heart becomes a great blessing. It refreshes and rejuvenates your spirit. Somewhat like when you walk into a clean house after it’s had a spring cleaning. It does something for you. You’re happier. Your spirit is revitalized. Embrace it. Living in love and obedience is the best way.

I wish you well on your spiritual journey.