BONUS: Obedience Thru Grace
Obedience thru Grace. Ever scoffed at the idea of keeping a journal, brushing it off as mere child's play? I certainly did, until I realized the incredible way it could map my spiritual growth and capture the moments when God's hand gently steered my life. This heart-to-heart conversation delves into the unexpected richness journaling brings to personal reflection, chronicling triumphs, and the humbling recognition of answered prayers. It's a candid look at how this seemingly simple practice can become a cornerstone in our relationship with the Divine.
Obedience to the Almighty initially felt like an itchy sweater, constraining and uncomfortable. But what a transformation when I discovered it's less about limitations and more about guiding me to a life brimming with meaning! This episode isn't just my confession of wrestling with sin and stumbling on the path of righteousness; it's an affirmation of the peace and satisfaction that bloom from living in harmony with God's will. Join me as we explore the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit and the strength found in fellowship, on a journey of obedience that's both challenging and liberating.
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Thank You. I Love You!
SEE YA!
Rick
Be An Encourager...Not A Discourager!
WEBVTT
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I know some of y'all can't wait a week to hear from me.
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So I'm going to start preparing some little short things to just throw out during the week, just to give you something else to listen to, something else to contemplate, something else to study.
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Nothing big, nothing deep Should be fairly short.
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I hope you enjoy it.
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If you do, let me know Rick at RenewedMindsetscom or the contact page at RenewedMindsetscom slash contact.
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Either way, I'd love to hear from you.
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Enjoy.
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See.
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Ya, let's talk a little bit about journaling, and it's something we always heard about growing up.
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I heard about it a lot and I thought, man, it's just keeping a diary Girls do that.
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But man, I started journaling not too long ago and it's so good.
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I love it.
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It's so cool to be able to go back and look and see where you were and what issues you were dealing with and see as you move forward to the current time where God actually intervened, where God answered prayers, where God changed your life.
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It's all about obedience.
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When I initially began to follow Jesus, the act of obeying him felt like a heavy burden.
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It was like putting on an uncomfortable, itchy wool sweater.
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A lot of times I choose to pursue my own desires instead of adhering to God's commands, and it's driven by a fear of consequences that might come up.
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But as I continued to walk alongside Jesus, I came to understand that his request for obedience wasn't meant to hinder me, but it was to guide me towards a fulfilling and satisfying life.
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In the book of John, jesus says that those who faithfully abide by his commands genuinely love him.
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That's John 14, 21.
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Now, this statement is puzzling.
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It was to me.
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I mean, how could obedience be a demonstration of love?
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Shouldn't love be about freedom and choice rather than rules and restrictions?
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But as I dove deeper into God's Word and sought to understand His heart, I started to see obedience in a new light.
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The Bible gives us general instructions on how to live a righteous and God-honoring life, but there's instances where we require specific guidance for the unique circumstances that we're in.
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But thankfully, god doesn't abandon us to navigate this on our own.
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He gives us the Holy Spirit, and that's a trustworthy guide and a community of believers our church who offer support throughout our journey.
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Seeking obedience can be a big, big task, especially when we're faced with decisions that the Bible doesn't really specifically address, and this is where the practice of journaling has been very helpful for me.
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I write about my thoughts and my concerns and I seek God's will in these little gray areas.
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Some people refer to this as creating a list of pros and cons, but for me there's something that's incredibly powerful by putting my thoughts down on paper and throughout this process, god used my journaling to bring clarity and conviction to my heart.
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And after I prayed and journaled about some kind of specific decision, then I go seek counsel from one or two trustworthy people in my life.
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They're either friends that I've had for years and years, or a mentor or the pastor of the church, people who approach God with sincerity, and I think about their advice for a good amount of time, whether it's 10 minutes or an hour or a a week or even a year, and during that waiting period I strive to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I trust that he will grant me peace when my decision aligns with God's will, and it's at that point that I take action.
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Now.
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It's important to note here that obedience to God's commands can be very challenging and, despite my love for him and my determination to obey, there's days when I just stumble and deviate from his path.
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I find myself tempted by sin, even though I'm well aware of my regret.
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This struggle is one that you can relate to, but the book of Galatians serves as a reminder for us to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, galatians 5.25.
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Obedience may not become easier with time, but it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore our trusted friend and Savior, jesus.
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Now, while obedience may require sacrificing our own desires, it also offers us freedom and peace, and it rewards us with a profound sense of satisfaction, knowing that we walk in accordance with God's will.
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Now, as you go on this journey of practicing obedience, you need to pray hard for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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The prophet Isaiah exclaimed the Lord will continually guide you, satisfy your needs in a parched land and strengthen your bones.
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That's Isaiah 58, 11.
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So when I first began to follow Jesus, obedience was burdensome and uncomfortable, but as you continue to walk alongside him, you're going to come to understand that obedience is not a hindrance but a guide towards a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
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Jesus called us to love him.
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By faithfully obeying his commands, and through the Holy Spirit and a good, supportive community of believers, you can seek guidance in making difficult decisions.
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And although that obedience might not be easy.
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It's going to lead you to freedom and peace.
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So, as you journey down this path to obedience, just pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trust that God will continually guide and strengthen you.
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Join me each week at renewedmindsetscom or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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I'm Rick.
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I love you, see ya.
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