Do you think of yourself as obedient? Do you readily obey your parents, the codes of conduct in your society or even your own heart’s desires? All of those may be in conflict with God’s desires for your life and the necessary obedience needed to follow Him. Because we are sinners and live in a sinful world, obedience does not come naturally. It is against our sin nature to do what others desire of us or even what we desire ourselves for our future since we are rebellious at heart. So how do we become obedient to God and His Word? Peter gives us direction in 1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” God calls us to be holy and to follow Him in obedience. Peter goes on in verses 18-19 to explain to root of our ability to obey, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” Because of Christ’s death on the cross we become His children through faith in Him and His redeeming work. We are given the godly motivation, godly direction and ability to be obedient from our heart through our faith in Jesus.
I love the way Paul explains this transformation in Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Faith in Jesus sets me free from the bondage of sin that holds my heart and actions and frees me to serve with an obedient heart the Jesus I love.
What about you? Does your love and faith in Jesus cause you to desire to be obedient to Him and His Word? Do you find following Jesus hard? Even Paul stated in Romans that 
he struggled to do what God wants him to do because of his own sin nature. Romans 7:19-20 “19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” He summarizes his condition of faith in verse 24-25. “ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” His final conclusion to this dilemma is profound in Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the 
law of sin and death.” Jesus is the answer and He frees us from our bondage to sin.
May your heart be filled with the love of Jesus today so that you may live with a heart that is wholeheartedly obedient to Him.
Linda
3:16-19. “
What about you? Do you feel sincere love for others because you know Jesus? Do you feel that the love God showed to you by sending Jesus makes you love Him even more? A truly transformed heart is a heart filled with faith in Jesus that manifests itself in our lives by love for God and others. If you feel you lack this kind of love, ask God for it. Love for others is a God thing and when we are lacking He tells us to ask Him. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8 
Today I am beginning a new series on the heart. There are at least 100 scriptures that focus on the heart, so it must be of great importance to God. I found there are scriptures that talk about God’s Work in our hearts, the true nature of our hearts and what a transformed heart looks like. The materials I have show the most ‘popular’ verses- people actually voted, so perhaps they were either most helpful, most revealing or most convicting. I love it that the most loved verses deal with God’s Work in our hearts. It gives us a good place to begin.
will cleanse you.
Through Jesus’ Work on the cross and resurrection from the dead
How do you recover your resolve when you struggle with hard people, difficult circumstances or your own unbelief? The psalmist resolved to trust God and stand on His Word. Even when we do not understand we can make up our minds to believe God for who He is and what He says. This will give us hope and bring us through those hard times. Resolve today to stand with God and believe His Word. He always proves Himself faithful.
The psalmist is struggling with his daily life and desires God to guide him away from temporal things to a focus on eternal truths that will change and renew his life. God’s goodness will transform our lives is we submit to His truths and follow Him. Do you desire God’s help with your life problems? Seek His wisdom and truth. Open His Word and bow in prayer. He will find you, just like He promised. Hebrews 11:6 challenges us to believe and take that step of faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Does that describe you and your search for God? Turn to Him in faith today. He will find you.
Walking with Him is an adventure in faith,
Romans 8:16-17 “
voice. 
Because I believe that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead
Fearless Living 