You get to choose.

We have been talking about hearing from God and how the Holy Spirit helps us with that. Why is it so important that we hear God and obey Him? Deuteronomy 28 tells us and it starts in verses 1 and 2 as follows, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God”. Then the list of blessings starts in verses 3-14.

There are awesome blessings for obeying the voice of God which means the opposite is also true. There are curses for disobeying His voice listed in verses 15- 68. Ouch. Yeah, I wish it was only blessings and blessings and no consequences for disobedience but that’s not how it works in life and that’s not how it works with God either.

What I love about God is that He always gives us a choice. Ultimately it is up to us whether we want to live a life full of blessings or curses. Thing is we can’t live in disobedience and expect the blessings of the Lord. We may prosper outwardly but inside there will always be an emptiness, a darkness or inner turmoil that our outward riches won’t compensate for. We have a God shaped hole in our hearts and only God can fill it. Disobedience brings distance between us and God. Obedience brings intimacy and closeness with God.

Intimacy with God gives us light and peace deep within. One of the ways we can make sure we maintain our intimacy with God is by obeying Him and listening to Him. Think of it this way, would you like to hang out with a friend who constantly ignores you, or only listens to you when it suits them? No. Likewise you can’t grow in your intimacy with God if you are constantly at odds with His voice and His instruction.

There are heaps of blessings on the other side of your obedience. Obedience is not always easy but it is always worth it. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow their tears as seeds[a] will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!”

In the Footnotes it says, “Psalm 126:5 [a] Or “sow their seeds with tears.” A sower weeps when he sows his precious seed while his children are hungry. This is a picture of sacrificing what little we have for the harvest to come.” Obeying God will cost you something but always be mindful of the harvest of blessings to come. Furthermore, be mindful of the eternal reward that awaits you in Heaven. The blessings we receive on Earth are but a mere drop in the ocean of eternal rewards stored up for us in Heaven.

So, choose blessings over curses. Choose obedience over rebellion. Choose to follow the voice of God over your own understanding. Trust Him, He is good and His plans for us are always for good. His plan is for blessings to come upon you and overtake you but you get to choose.

If you want to know more about blessings and curses you can read a book by Derek Prince called, “Blessing or Curse, You Can Choose”.

Love and blessings

Melissa Tsingano