Blessings in Obedience

As I reflect on my walk with God throughout the years, every day I am continually reminded of this truth: We serve a God who wants the very best for His children. God doesn’t want us living a life of mediocrity. He wants us living a fulfilled life on purpose, for a purpose.

 

I’ve also realized that all the blessings I’ve had over the years have been in direct correlation with doing what God said to do, when He said to do it.

 

When my dad had his first leg amputated due to complications with diabetes, I had a choice to make. I could either stay at Pittsburgh, or I could transfer to a smaller school in Lynchburg, Virginia, to be closer to my family.

 

To the world, transferring to Liberty, a smaller Christian university, probably looked a little crazy considering how much I was excelling at Pittsburgh. But after asking God what I should do, I felt more peace in going home than staying where I was. While outsiders may not have understood my decision, I felt God was leading me to move home and honor my parents, as He calls us to do. So I did it. I followed Him.

 

When everything was said and done, I wanted what God wanted for me, and I knew I would only obtain it by doing what He said to do. In 2009, I was drafted to the NFL from that same small school. I’m now living my dream, playing running back for the New York Giants as an eight-year NFL veteran who has been given a platform to make Christ known.

 

Obedience—following God’s leading and doing what He tells us to do—isn’t always going to be easy, especially if it requires change. Obedience doesn’t always lead to comfort. In fact, if we are truly going to receive all the promises God has for us, I’d say obedience will often require us to be OK with being uncomfortable and uncertain.

 

But there’s one thing I know. God honors us when we honor Him.

 

“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalm 84:11) So, how do you walk in obedience? How do you follow God’s leading? Read God’s Word and pray! God has already given us a game plan for how we should live our lives. It’s all made perfectly clear in the Bible. God doesn’t give us His Word to hinder us, but to help us receive all of His promises. As you read His Word and pray, God will give you the wisdom and guidance for every situation you face.

 

So, I challenge you. In what areas of your life is God calling you to be more obedient to Him? Is He calling you to give up a friendship or relationship that is holding you back and not drawing you closer to Christ? Let go. Is He leading you to ask for His forgiveness and turn away from some sins or habits that are only hurting you? Ask and turn away. It will be worth it. If God will not withhold any good thing from those who do what’s right, it’s safe to say He can (and does) withhold good things from those who do not. Don’t allow disobedience to delay your own blessings! God will lead us to the right thing, but it’s up to us to receive it. God always comes through on His promises as we follow His leading. There are blessings in obedience, and they are always exceedingly and abundantly more than anything you can ask, think or imagine.