Contentment: how to walk in obedience to God – is that possible? Yes, it is! Check out these four steps to walking obediently and how that helps us find contentment in what we do, who we are, where we live, and who we are with.
4 Steps for How to Walk in Obedience to God
1. Choose to walk in Obedience to God
How we use our days and time is really up to us. Do we choose the narrow and easier path, or do we choose the wide one that is much harder? Yet that wide path seems so much easier. But it’s wrought with destruction and leads to death.
That is the bottom line of Paul’s writing to the Romans here. We are all slaves to one thing or another. But the difference is which path we choose. Do we choose to walk the path of disobedience that is one of hardship, consequences, evil thoughts, and actions? This path is purposely choosing rebellion and it will definitely affect obedience.
Or do we choose to walk the path of obedience that is one of thankfulness, loving on others, and righteousness?
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:16 ESV
PauI chose obedience a long time ago. God doesn’t promise this life will be easy. But with God, it makes it a whole lot better, and He is the one who wins at the end of time (John 16:33 ESV). Which path will you choose?
2. Walk in Obedience to God: Take Charge of Your Thoughts
One Bible verse on obedience is this one about getting our thoughts under control.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Our bad thoughts can make our attitude take a deep dive, lead to anger, and affect our health. In causes of fear, we learned how the brain is constantly recording information. This information is burrowed into our brain and our responses to this data are based on what we’ve known before. If we continually focus on evil thoughts, it affects our health in many ways.
This past week I had one day that I was mad and upset about something. I did not take that thought captive to obey Christ. Hanging onto that bad thought led to self-pity, anxiety, and then taking my anger out on my husband. It was not a glorious moment. I repented and apologized to my husband. It all started with that one thought and choosing to dwell on it instead of taking it captive. After that, the next step is to replace it with a verse that is God’s truth.
3. Fear God and Trust Him
Who do you fear? Do you fear God or man? Fearing God with a reverential fear is the best fear to have. He is the one who made us, and we should trust Him for the outcome of everything we are going through.
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Isaiah 50:10 ESV
Take time to read about the best type of fear in the Bible. You will learn about Levi who feared God and lived in peace.
4. Walking in Obedience means to Obey God, Not Man
There are parents, leaders, government, and employers to obey. However, God is the sovereign ruler over all that He created. We need to obey Him over anyone else in this world.
Peter and the apostles obeying God over man are great examples of obedience in the Bible. The rulers of the day didn’t want him and the apostles preaching about Jesus. When they came to them and asked why they were disobeying their order, they said:
We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29 ESV
I choose to obey God over man. My former employer made the C shot a condition of employment. I believe that each person can choose whether to get these shots for their health, and the shot should not be made mandatory. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so I didn’t want to put anything in it that I don’t really know what is in it (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV). And God blessed that tremendously. I had another job within 5 weeks and am loving it! God is so good!
What are you choosing to do in your life to put God over man?
Walking in Obedience to God is Possible!
We can walk in obedience. This is made possible by the Holy Spirit. When you have accepted Christ as your Savior, God puts the Holy Spirit in you and marks you with a seal for your life in eternity with God (Ephesians 1:13 ESV). That Holy Spirit actually causes us to obey God and walk in obedience to His commands!
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Ezekiel 36:27 ESV
When we are able to keep in step with God’s commands by choosing to do the right things, fear and trust Him alone, keep our thoughts in check, and obey God over man will lead to being content in all areas of our life. Jeremiah told the people what God had said.
But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
Jeremiah 7:23 ESV
The work, Well, in this verse means “to be glad, joyful, well placed or be pleasing to us” (Interlinear Bible, Studylight.org).
God assures us that our life will be pleasing to us when we walk in obedience. And when we have gladness and joy, we are content in all areas: what we do, who we are, where we live, and who we are with.
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Resource Library
Since I mentioned Ezekiel 36:27 is a great one to memorize, there are Bible verse cards in the Resource Library and this verse is one of them. They are ready for you to download at your convenience!
Stop Living Small:10 Truths Toward Your Significant Life by Mary DeMuth
How many times have you told yourself that you aren’t worthy? Or how will I succeed at work? Or whether we are making an impact on what we do here on earth.
Mary shares truths from God’s Word to combat the lies that we have told ourselves in how we sum up our worth. However, that is not who God says we are. I love how this quote shares some of those lies we have told ourselves and then ends with the results of the worthiness we find in God.
You are His lovely dwelling place, infused with worth. Even when you walk with a limp. Even when you feel unloved. Even when you’re overlooked. Even when you overwork to prove your worth. Even when your strength ebbs and fades. Even when insecurity takes deep root. Even when you feel ugly. Even when the past strangles you. Even when nothing you do seems to matter. Even when money and success elude you. Even when your story takes violent turns. You are living a life worth living. The God who made the sparkling stars loves you affectionately. He delights in you. Let your worth rest there. Joy and freedom will, no doubt, follow.
Mary DeMuth, Stop Living Small
