Know-Love-Obey God

I found out that real joy—the “joy made full” that Jesus puts in me—doesn’t come when I get what I want. It comes when I do what God wants.
I’ve found that the deepest joy is borne by obedience.
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. [...]

God’s Holy Spirit lives in every believer. He is our Counselor, Tutor, and Guide—our Director-in-Residence.
But His voice is quiet, and our spiritual ears must be trained to listen for His instruction and leading. Before opening your Bible each morning, ask Him to teach you and make clear God’s ways and will. Then [...]

For the High Calling Blogs book club:
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die,
by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Laura Boggess leads our Sep. 27 discussion on chapter four, “Credible.”.
Which is more fun:
A GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
A VISIT WITH A CANCER PATIENT DURING CHEMOTHERAPY
The women who sat with Sandi Kluth while toxic chemicals dripped through [...]

I stand on unfamiliar ground.
Places unknown lie before me.
You call me to follow,
You’re carving my way,
Yet still I hesitate.

I turn to see who’s behind me:
Souls You have placed in my care.
They watch my direction,
They’re following me,
And I no longer hesitate.
My feet take the path I should take.

Point out the road for me to follow.
I’ll hear [...]

In this small word: “So”
I see the simple, deep faith
and trusting obedience
of those with open hands
and willing feet.
Their open desire
to follow their Master
is displayed
in the words
immediately
following
the “so.”
So Noah did everything as God commanded him.
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country . . .” So Abram departed as the LORD had [...]

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.
- Psalm 143:10
I make this my prayer.
Father, teach me
not only Your will
but to obey it.
I will not be capable
of obedience unless You
teach me. Let me learn
from You how to follow You.
Lead me, and as You lead,
teach [...]

“How’s everything back home?” Nehemiah asks his brother, Hanani.
The news is terrible and heart-breaking. The walls have burned down. After his initial gut reaction, Nehemiah the Cupbearer straightens his tie and knocks at the big boss’s office door. He approaches King Artaxerxes.
“If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found [...]

A high school valedictorian applies for college, certain of his acceptance. The college responds, “We regret we cannot accept your application postmarked May 20. The application deadline was May 15 . . . ”
**********
A child runs to the street corner, almost there. The mother commands, “Stop running!” The child stops running [...]

Now, after the confession and the pruning, how shall I proceed? How can I bear fruit in keeping with repentance? How shall I direct my feet so that I do not continue on the wrong path but turn on the right one? What will keep me away from loving man more than [...]

First the Scripture, then the prayer-poem:
My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
(Psalm 119:71 NLT)
Father, when I suffer,
let it bring about in me
a greater attentiveness
to Your Word.
A prayer-poem. Read here on how to journal your own prayer-poem.