The other night I couldn’t sleep so I finished the last chapter in Without Rival by Lisa Bevere. In the chapter she says a lot of wise, deep, well-worded things but they weren’t really hitting me until I came to the simple phrase: “We are the ones who benefit when we follow God’s instructions.”

The phrase stood out. I think it stood out because lately I’ve been thinking I want to live my life more intentionally. I’ve never dreaded growing old. I don’t freak out when I find a grey hair and leaving my twenties didn’t bother me a bit. But I turned forty this past year and it was the first time I stopped to ponder the direction of my life. How do I say this? I’ve never been burdened by the tyranny of ambition. I’m a very go-with-the-flow-laid-back type. I’m smart with money, but it’s never been a driving force. I don’t have an all-consuming passion or a 10-step plan on how to achieve goals. I’ve always figured if God tells me to do something or go a certain direction I’ll listen, and since I don’t particularly care where I’m going, wherever he takes me is fine. For me, this laid-back approach has worked. I’m thankful and happy and blessed. I have noticed however, that people who do have a passion and a vision for something and who couple their faith and obedience to God with planning, intentionality, and action, make things happen! Planning and intentionality have been somewhat missing in my life. But again, since I don’t have a specific passion or vision, what in the world am I supposed to do? Recently I was listening to a teaching and Brie, an associate pastor at Transformation Church, explained something that made a lot of sense. To summarize, she said sometimes we want God to tell us every little detail of what to do. And while he does care about the intimate details of our lives, he often just gives us the Word of God and then specific boundaries for seasons in our lives then he trusts us enough not to micromanage.

I do believe God cares and leads us in the way we should go. One of my favorite verses is: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV). There are several seasons in my life when I’ve felt the leading of the Lord to make certain life decisions and follow distinct directions. But there are also seasons (like now) when I don’t hear “Make this life-altering decision. Turn this way.” Everything seems rather quiet and uneventful. Not boring, as every day I’m thankful for the precious moments I get to live and the beauty around me, but quiet. How can I be more intentional during quiet seasons? Often when phrases or ideas stick out to me, it means I need to pay attention.

We are the ones who benefit when we follow God’s instructions.

and:

Sometimes God gives us specific boundaries for seasons in our lives but then steps back and doesn’t micro-manage.

When I started pondering these phrases, it made me question. What specific boundaries did the Lord last give me to follow? Have I truly been obedient to them, or have I thought they were so insignificant that they weren’t a big enough deal to make a priority? Why would I expect God to give me new direction or boundaries for a new season if I have not treated the old ones as important?

As I thought about these things, my suspicions were confirmed. God had in fact given me three very specific boundaries in the last two years. But to me, they didn’t seem like a very big deal. So, I have lazily, half-heartedly obeyed. Is it truly that big of a deal to discipline myself and my focus in these areas? It’s not quite convenient when I have a full-time job and I just want to relax when I’m not working. I’m half obeying, so that must count for something?! But it has come to my attention lately that is not quite what the Bible teaches. Apparently, Jesus and the disciples talked a lot about taking up your cross and disciplining yourself and about being an intentional soldier and using your short time wisely on this earth. Don’t get me wrong, I believe service to God and life altering decisions should come out of a place of intimate relationship with him. Otherwise, you could just end up frustrated or burnt out. I’m a firm believer in resting in his presence and not trying to earn his affection. I believe in healing and growing until you want to serve him, not just feel you have to. But there is a balance to everything. My flesh doesn’t always want to obey. I’ve noticed many people want God to use them to change the world but don’t actually want to take the little (sometimes annoying) steps towards growth. Since God knows I have that foundation of rest, he is now trying to build upon it. “Gayle, I love you. You are my precious daughter no matter what. But if you don’t obey me today, I can’t trust you with new things tomorrow.”

There are two vital things I have learned about the character of God. His love is scandalous. He sees the dirtiest, creepiest parts of us and loves us whole-heartedly and without judgment (thank you Jesus, literally!) The second vital thing I have learned about his character is that he is always leading his loved ones into the next level of freedom. That is why we are the ones who benefit when we follow God’s instructions. When I was younger (and less wise) his instructions seemed like a bigger deal. Stop promiscuous behavior, don’t drink too much, stop dating until I say so, stop hanging out with this group of people because they are not leading you down the right path. As I obeyed, I would walk into a new level of healing and freedom. As I get older (and wiser) his personal instructions for me don’t seem to be as big of a deal. Be more disciplined with your free time, cut out processed sugar, spend more focused time with me (ok, that last one is always a big deal, but doesn’t always feel like it is). But I’m realizing that his “little instructions” are big deals. Because he is always leading me into a higher level of freedom. And obedience today means he can trust me with more tomorrow.

Is there something God has put on your heart to do or to change but you are not fully obeying him? If it is something really hard to do or give up, I would press into him for the “how”. Just know that God is never coming from a place of “you aren’t good enough.” He is always coming from a place of “you are so incredibly precious to me, and I have better for you.” He wants us to walk in the fullness of life that he has for us. As we obey him, we walk into his good, pleasing and perfect will. We live our best lives!

How-to summary:

• Get quiet with God and ask him to remind you of any specific directions or boundaries he has given you to obey that you may have forgotten about.
• If it is something hard you feel you can’t do, ask for his grace and direction on how to carry it out.
• Write down the instructions he has given you for this season in your life and be clear about your plan on the steps you need to take to obey.
• Make obedience a priority every day.