Abide And Obey
Have you ever been so pressed in by God about something? It seems so much of what I am reading and listening to, and thinking about revolves around one subject. Abide and Obey! I ask God to impress on my heart (mind, will, emotion, and intellect) what to post each week, and I have felt such a strong inner voice and moving of the Spirit about this subject. Today let’s talk about abide and obey.
The Book Of Romans
One of my favorite books of the Bible is Romans. It is an exhaustive treatise that lays out God’s plan of salvation and so much more!
One of the verses in Roman 12 is so deep and profound to me it has become a recording in my head being played on a loop!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1
First of all, this scripture is addressed to Christians. Those who have already bowed the knee and made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives. Only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can this verse be lived out in our lives.
Knowing The Will Of God
The big picture meaning of this verse is very deep!
Because of all God has done for us, the only sane way to answer his gifts and grace and mercy is to give Him our broken bodies, as a living sacrifice, as our way of worshipping Him for all He has done.
And we are not to be like the world around us, steeped in the way they think and do things that are in rebellion to our Father but make sure we are abiding (having a relationship) with God by reading, knowing, and obeying His Word. So when we transform our mind, we can test and know what the will of God is for our lives.
The key is turning our bodies and minds and will over to the Lord to obey him.
Obey!
Being Obedient
I have a Sunday Scripture about Romans 12:1-2 you can read HERE. Easier said than done. But when we really know all God has done for us, it becomes our only reasonable response!
I’m also doing a study with my church called Discerning The Voice Of God by Priscilla Shirer, and it is FABULOUS. This study is about hearing the voice of God in our lives and following it.
Over and over again, Priscilla talks about how we need to obey God to hear Him. Obey first! Not second guessing and not slow obedience. Just like Romans says … to obey God as a living sacrifice.
Yes, I have been hearing from God in a big way lately. And the Holy Spirit has impressed on my heart (mind, will, emotion, and intellect) a phrase I use often when I teach…
Abide And Obey
ABIDE AND OBEY
Jesus says in John 15:4…
Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Again the big overview meaning of this verse is tied up in the word abide!
Abide carries with it the meaning of having a close, personal relationship with Jesus. We can do nothing of kingdom value if we do not know and have a close relationship with Jesus.
Abide and obey is the mantra of my life.
Although I am often not very good at it.
In times when I let my relationship with Jesus slip, it becomes hard to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit (the very presence of God in me) in my spirit, making it hard to know His will and obey.
Jesus said in John 10:10…
… I have come that they (His sheep, believers) may have life, and have it abundantly.
Our abundant life comes when we abide and obey.
Today make a commitment to know Jesus. Not just know about Him.
To have that beautiful connection on a deep level, study your bible yourself.
Ask the Holy Spirit to “guide you in all truth” (John 16:13). And obey what He tells you.
Transform your mind. Replace the clutter and filth of this world with the grace and truth of God.
Spend time quietly before God and let His Holy Spirit speak to you! He will not tell you anything that contradicts His word.
And if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, now is the time to get to know Him and take part in the everlasting life He offers. You can read about it HERE.
Friends, the essence of our lives here on planet Earth is all about abiding and obeying God.
We will live eternally with Him if we bow our knees to Jesus as Lord, so why would we not live out the eternal truths ahead of us.
We are destined for the Kingdom, so we should be living out that kind of kingdom life here on Earth, right?
I pray that you would ask God to show you how to abide in Him and obey Him without delay.
Oh, the abundant life, a life of living close to God, if we abide and obey!
Here’s the verse I am memorizing this week:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1
Hard to fulfil sometimes, as we think we know more than Him, an excuse I invent when He asks me to do things and rules I don’t want to follow! It is an act of our mind, will and trying millions of times.
Another piece of writing full of the inspiration of those that live in the presence of God all the time trying to do things well.
Lots of LOVE for you and yours as well as those following your blog.
Hugs from afar once more,
Charo
I am also studying Romans at my church and we are in Romans 12… Let love be genuine …..Abhor what is evil… Hold fast to what is good.
I have committed my life to God….. and I am running the race to win a prize of everlasting life with Jesus in heaven!
Thank you Yvonne….I needed that. We here in Vt have been bogged down in a VERY snowy, very COLD winter with nothing but negative covid news daily from our local news outlets. Our church has just lost it’s third pastor in about four years, and it’s disheartening. Abide, and Obey! That’s it…the answer to peace in the chaos. Bless you.
Thank you for this post. The longer I live the more I see that the “joy of the Lord” comes to us when we stay in God’s Word and do what He tells us to do. Obeying Him. He is our creator and surely knows what’s best for us. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, we can rest, have peace, and be joyful in Him.
I am so thankful for my Savior! I appreciate what you have said today. I hear your heart-felt message!
Thanks so much for sharing this great Word!!! What an encouragement at a time when right and wrong seem completely upside down in our world. How grateful I am to know Him…..learning to lean into Him further and listen for His voice above all the noise of this world. “Trust and obey, for there’s no better way….to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey…..”
I needed this today. I am searching for what to do in an area of my life and I need His help. Please pray for me
Yes, I am praying for you Linda!
I thank God for the abundant life we have when we put our trust in Him! This was a wonderful devo, Yvonne. Thanks, so much, for sharing with us. We appreciate you so much and will never cease to thank God for you! May He bless you and Bobby in a special way this coming week.
Thank you Mary Ann! May God bless you too!
Yvonne, I always appreciate your Sunday posts and Biblical insights. Do you have a Study Bible that you have used that you like? I am looking for one and there are so many choices.
Hi JoAnn, what a great question! I use the NASV version of the bible. It’s closest to the King James which is closest to the original Greek and Hebrew. It’s really not the Bible I use but the way I study the Bible. Have you ever heard of INDUCTIVE Bible study? This has changed my life! Here is a book that will really help you learn to study the Bible:https://shop.precept.org/collections/how-to-study/products/how-to-study-your-bible
Thank you! I will look into that. I am just starting a Bible Study on the Holy Spirit that has a 5 step process for reading Scripture. It takes more effort but the reward is great!
Thank you, Yvonne. I needed that this morning. I LOVED seeing that you are sharing God’s word on your blog. With all the evil and corruption going on in the world now, we need to seek God every day and fill our mind and spirit with the Holy Spirit so that we can shine HIS light and love.
Best,
Andrea
Amen and amen, Andrea! I share a scripture teaching every week.
This is great. The world is just getting crazier and crazier and it’s so wonderful to be able to rest in His truth. Blessings to you.
Renae, you are such a darling. Thank you for being my blogging friend. xo
I just want to thank you for these devotions. They are so encouraging to me. I am a wife and a mother of 5 sweet kiddos and sometimes life’s distractions can cause me to put my alone time with God aside and replace it with things that are unfruitful. When I read your posts, it reminds me all over again how wonderful our precious savior is and that nothing on earth is more important than building my relationship with my heavenly Father. When I read these Sunday scripture readings, I feel like the “older teaching the younger”, (not that you are old) ? and I’m so grateful that you faithfully share your wisdom. Thank you so much!
Apples of Gold! Oh, how I want that to be true!
Thank you, Yvonne. I needed to read this today. Sometimes I wander away and don’t “listen”. Thank you for taking the time to write this.
Diana, God bless you!
Thank you, Yvonne, for this thoughtful and uplifting message. I also love Romans, particularly the verse you have highlighted for us today. That verse has special meaning to me. Some time ago, when I was a lot younger, I was struggling with myself and my faith. I’m a control freak, and “letting go and letting God” was difficult. I struggled because I couldn’t let go and trust in God. This verse in Romans, “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God that which is good and acceptable and perfect,” was a revelation and gave me the permission to let go. Letting go isn’t a weakness but a strength, and trusting in God only lifts us up. As I write this, I am reminded that this verse still has such power for me. Thank you again for the reminder.
Romans 12:1-2 has had such an effect on me too! Praise God!
Thank you for sharing. Adding notes to my quiet time with him this week…
You are welcome Leslie. How nice you take notes. I should too.
Truthful, beautiful, and timely. God bless you!
And you too DJ
Hello Yvonne, your words always speak to me and rest heavily on my heart. But why wouldn’t they? They are the words and wisdom of our Lord and savior. I have said this before. I wish you would create a teaching blog of the Bible and nothing else. I reach the end of your Sunday blog and wish there was more. Thank you for your
explanations and teachings. God bless you and Peace be with you and your family.
Thanks Roxanne. Did you know you can find all the Sunday Scriptures HERE: https://www.stonegableblog.com/category/sunday-scripture/
Yes I do. Thank you for the reminder.
I love your devotional on Sunday. May God bless and keep you.
Nancy, Thank you so much! May God bless you richly!
Yvonne~Romans is, to me, the most important book in the New Testament. I am reviewing a Romans Bible study that I had several years ago. I hear Dr. Charles Stanley’s voice saying “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” I am striving, and not always successful, to abide in Him and to obey Him. Thank you for sharing. You are an inspiration. Peace and Abundant Blessings to you!
Thank you Kathryn. What wise words from dear Dr Stanley! Thanks for sharing. I’m striving too.
This is beautiful and such a lovely reminder and gift to us all. Thank you, Yvonne for your beautiful blog and sharing.
Thank you so much Mary Ellen!
Abide and Obey! Awesome advice for living everyday life! Thanks for your post. Teri