#CommittedToObedience

     I’ve been hash tagging this a lot lately. Simply because I need to be reminded of the commitment I made to Daddy through the revelation He gave me. It’s a reminder of the conversation we had to have after a Bible study class. I’m going to write it until it is engraved in my heart. For now, I am walking out my promise in the natural until it becomes a permanent part of my life.

     I am learning that my sweet pastor is so soft spoken, but effective. In fact, I love it when she gets excited about the Word because her eyes light up and she actually becomes a little animated when she raises her volume in delight. That night she began to get excited as we discussed some distractions that take our focus off of our heavenly assignments. We compared the incident with David and his army returning home from battle to find their families taken and the city destroyed versus the threats on Jesus’ life by the church. We discussed how David and his men cried until their strength was gone (I Sam 30:1-4). Jesus… Well, he “escaped out of their hand”, and performed a miracle. Twice! (John 8:53-59 thru John 9:1-7, John ch. 10 thru 11.)
 
     “How many of us would have done what Jesus did?” she asked. Needless to say, this opened the door for some comical discussion. But in her explanation of how Christ was focused, she said something that created that “point of discovery” for me yet again. In her final comment she said, “Christ was committed to obedience.” Immediately, Holy Spirit told me to paper clip that comment to come back to it later. By later He meant one on one with me.
 
     That night Daddy began to answer some of my issues that I had been bringing before Him in prayer. One in particular was my state of health. He showed me that part of the “unanswering” was exactly what my pastor had said. “You need to commit that to Me.” He said softly. I replied, “But I am committed! Haven’t I proven that to You? I’m still here, aren’t I?” I could feel myself getting offended. I have committed to not giving up on my walk anymore, and I still get accused of lack of commitment? I have been trying my best, honestly this time! Before I could cry He answered me. “Yes, you have been committed and you have done better. Have you not seen your life change for the better over the past few years? Didn’t your ship turn around?”
 
     Let me say this. Sometimes we can take the things that we have heard time and time again and dismiss it because; let’s be honest. We’ve heard it time and time again. But I have learned that some revelations come during phases and stages of our lives when they are going to have more of an impact rather than just having an academic value. This was one of those moments. I’m sure in my years on this earth I have heard about the obedience of Christ. But I’m going to be straightforward and say it really had no impact in the past because I truly did not comprehend the act of obedience. I knew academically what it meant. However, I did not know the magnitude of its instructions.
 
     What Daddy was explaining to me was I made an overall commitment to serve Him and not walk away out of anger anymore. That was a life decision (for the duration of my existence). However, there are sub-commitments we make along the way as well. These change our lifestyle (routines). For example, I call Him Daddy because it stops me from seeing and relating to Him like a natural man. He is the ultimate example of fatherhood and parenting. So I committed to referring to Him as what I needed in my life to remind me of just how close He is to me every day (relationship). He is not “…an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities”. (Heb. 4:15) This commitment stopped a lot of my emotional anger issues.
 
     As He continued to speak and reveal, I noticed times when Daddy was preparing me for this little talk. I recalled some past incidents where He had been leading up to this correction and I missed it. I was becoming immune. So we reviewed the difference between Jesus and David’s commitment while on assignment. I recognized the problem area for me. I made a commitment right then and there. And I plan to keep it. Ladies and gentlemen, if you know in your heart Daddy is trying to get through to you about a sub-commitment in your lifestyle (routine), I want to encourage you to sit down and have that conversation. Do not fear it. It’s not about the emotion you’re feeling behind it. It’s about the healing and growth He wants to give you through it.

Warmest regards,
Bird

B&F Ministry