Obey God, Confident That What He Commands, He Enables
The Longings of My Heart
I love God with all that I am and all that I am able. But I long to know God more, love Him more, obey Him always, and serve Him better. I long to grow in my faith and go deeper in relationship with Him. I long to keep God first and spend time with Him each and every day. I long to continually trust Him, no matter the trial, with my life and for my needs. I long to rest in God, learn from Him, delight and rejoice in Him. I long for my life to display the fruit of the Spirit. I long to live my life abundantly and joyfully, pleasing my God and always be faithful. I long to bring Him glory. I long to be like Jesus. I say all of this sincerely. I pray for it, yet so often I fall short of what I’m striving for.
My Biggest Struggles
Currently, I am reading the Bible every day, but I don’t have time devoted to prayer. I do pray throughout the day giving thanks for what God has done and praying for my needs and the needs of others as they arise. But this is not the same as time devoted to prayer in which I can grow in my intimacy with God and spend time in worship and adoration, rejoicing and delighting in Him. I don’t always keep God first. Instead, I sometimes – more often than I care to admit – play apps on my phone or computer, and never get to that time of prayer devoted to God. Yet I love spending time, devoted time, with God. I find great joy and satisfaction in God when I have done so regularly. So why don’t I do so every day? Why have I become careless with this, spending more time with things of little worth that don’t bring joy or satisfaction?
What God Has Taught Me
About seven years ago, I struggled with unforgiveness and bitterness. I had a difficult childhood. I had much conflict with my parents and endured physical and emotional pain at their hands. Additionally, at 15 and 16 years old, in unrelated incidents, I was sexually abused by men in their 20’s. After over four decades, I finally came to the point that I knew God wanted me to forgive all four of these. I didn’t want to forgive any of them. I didn’t think I was even capable of doing so. But I did want to obey God. After months spent in prayer and speaking about this with my then pastor, God did the most amazing thing. God enabled me to forgive. I would not have been able to forgive on my own, but God did this for me. My part, saying “yes” to God about this, still wasn’t easy, but I chose to obey God and forgive, and God enabled me to do it. And I was freed from the guilt of being a victim and for the bitterness that I carried around with me. And God drew me much closer in a personal, intimate relationship with Him. The lesson I learned is what God commands, He enables.
Not Applying What I Learned
If you had asked me, I would have said this this enabling was for all God commands. God would not ask us to do something without providing a way for us to do it. Yet I held this as head knowledge. I did not generalize to other situations. Instead, I continued to struggle with different aspects of my Christian walk with God.
Mother’s Day 2024
Something interesting and wonderful happened. During worship, I made a sincere effort to do just that – worship God and not just sing songs. I was distracted, so this took a little more effort than usual, but it was well worth the effort. There may be other times when God is trying to get my attention, but I’m distracted or not listening. Today, I heard Him. He impressed on me that the lesson I had previously learned, “What God commands, He enables,” did not just apply to forgiving others. It was all His commands. It was for all of my struggles.
God’s Power
God makes available to us today the same power that He used to raise Jesus from the dead. Paul tells us this in Ephesians 1:15-21 (one sentence, but seven verses):
15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
When we choose to obey God, when we say “yes” to what He commands, when we ask for God’s help and strength to do what He wants us to do, He will enable us to do so. Nothing is too small or too great God. He loves us and wants our best. And His will is always what is best for us. God will use His power in our lives, the same power that He used to raise Jesus from the dead, to enable us to obey Him. God gave Jesus victory over the grave. He will give us victory over our struggles and sins.
What God Commands, He Enables
Paul tells us the following in Philippians 2:12-13 :
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
If we choose to obey God, He will work in us, “both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” He will enable us to obey Him. He will give us victory .
More Encouraging Verses
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
A Prayer
Dear Father God,
Thank You for the honor and privilege of prayer, and thank You for being with us in a special way when we pray.
You are so very good and kind to us. You love us with a steadfast love and are always faithful to us. Your commands are good and righteous. And you always enable us to do what You command.
We place our faith and trust in You. We long to please You and love You. We long to keep You first in all things. We long to abide in You. We choose to say “yes” to You and to obey all of Your commands. Please use Your power to give us strength and to enable us to just that -obey Your commands. We are confident that You will do so.
Thank You for Who You are and all You do.
And it’s in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who suffered and died for us and then rose from the grave, that we pray.
Your child,
Joy