Complete Obedience

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

If we are truly trusting in God’s plan and providence, then we will live in obedience to His will for our lives. Our trust in God is not meant to sit upon a shelf. We will face trials constantly, along with temptations, and struggles that will put our faith in God to work.
Before God would use Abraham, Abraham had to take the first step of obedience and leave his pagan hometown, Ur. But on the way to Canaan, Abraham and his family settled in Haran, another pagan town, for six years. Abraham’s obedience was incomplete.

God does not want us to start out on His path and then stagnate. Obedience involves commitment and follow-through. How many times do we settle for something short of the Lord’s perfect plan for our lives? How many times do we set out in obedience, only to stop at the halfway mark?
But God did not give up on Abraham. “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you’” (Genesis 12:1). This time, Abraham did not stop until he reached Canaan.

Prayer: Father, help me to go all the way in obedience to You. Show me if I am settling for something short of Your perfect plan.

“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).

 

Daily Living Faith

When Jesus rebuked the disciples in Matthew 8 for having “little faith,” Jesus wasn’t talking about saving faith, but daily living faith. Our saving faith remains constant, but our daily living faith rises and falls according to the strength of our relationship with God. When we are not in constant intimacy with God, the first storm that hits will create fear and panic. When we only give God the crumbs of our time and attention, our faith and understanding in Him will weaken. Faith that conquers fear depends on absolute trust in God. It is the kind of faith that has an open heart to whatever God provides for us. It is a faith that is manifested as an utter dependence on the sovereignty of God. When we live by faith, we know that even when the storm is at its worst, we can trust that God is working out His purposes for us. When Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, He was referring to their failure to trust Him in this practical situation. How often do we trust God with our eternal souls, but not our daily needs? God wants us to trust Him not only with our salvation, but also with our relationships, our resources, and our futures. He wants to see our professed faith in action. He wants us to put our complete trust in Him for every detail of our lives. When we walk close with God and trust Him daily, our faith will conquer our fears. When we put our focus on God, fear fades into the background. At the first sign of fear, our plan of action should be seeking God in prayer. Prayer: God, I trust You with my salvation, but sometimes I struggle with trusting You with the details of my life. Help my daily living faith to strengthen, that my faith would conquer my fears. Amen. “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:30-31).

Honor your father & mother

Mothers teach, counsel, and guide. “Do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (Prov. 1:8). Mothers comfort. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isa. 66:13). Mothers are a source of wisdom. The famous Proverb 31 was written by King Lemuel as “an inspired utterance his mother taught him” (Prov. 31:1 TNIV). There is a reason Proverbs personifies wisdom as a woman. Lady Wisdom walks in grace and wisdom purchased over decades of choices to cultivate her heart by faith. Wisdom is earned. And a mother passes her wisdom, her way, her core beliefs onto her children. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5). Too often we have diminished our mothers, both who they are and what they’ve done. We want to respect the weighty role they have played in our lives.

God's Encouragement

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. After God’s promise of victory to Joshua, God encouraged Joshua through His Word: “Be strong and very courageous. ... Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:7-8). True prosperity and success come from holding tenaciously to the Word of God. This doesn’t mean we won’t face setbacks or opposition in our work for the Lord. It doesn’t mean that every person we share the Gospel with will want to listen. But ultimately we will be on the right path when we follow God’s Word. As Scripture says: “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165). God also encouraged Joshua with the promise of His presence: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Even more than God’s promises or His written Word, we have the presence of God. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). When we make our relationship with God a daily priority, when we consistently seek and listen to His voice, when we trust in Him moment by moment, then God will give us the victory. Prayer: God, thank You for the encouragement You give us through Your Word and through the promise of Your presence. Thank You for the victory You give as we trust in You. Amen. “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17).