I love dogs. My home, first as a child and then as an adult, always has had one. Up to this point, the dogs in my life all have been small (or small-ish): Cocker Spaniel, Yorkshire Terrier, American Eskimo, Maltese.
{Hang with me, friends! I promise there’s a point here about godly obedience!}
In May of 2018, though, that changed when my husband and I brought home a new puppy—a precious yellow lab we named King. While I had zero prior experience with large dogs, I knew one thing for sure: obedience training was essential.
A Journey Toward Godly Obedience
So as we embarked on our training journey with him, the phrase, “Watch me!” became something new I would teach him. It was a command intended to get his attention and ensure he was looking at me, watching me, listening to me. Eye contact was key.
Throughout the fall, it’s also a phrase that kept bubbling into my prayer and thought life. I heard my pastor use it in a sermon, and it was a central theme in one of my Bible study lessons from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship).
When I use the command with King, I am seeking his obedience. And it’s the same in my relationship with God. When I allow myself to be quiet before God, when I take time to pray, when I listen to the prompting in my heart, and when I keep my eyes on Jesus, I know that simple phrase — watch me — holds value in my life, as well.
One Step at a Time: Being Faithful to Act
My goal in keeping King’s attention is to develop obedience. His success hinges on my faithfulness to lead and guide and his willingness to learn and obey. And while I know my relationship with Christ perhaps shouldn’t be equalized to dog obedience, I can’t help but notice the parallels.
We often try to complicate the Christian life when, in reality, following God is simple. Starting this blog has been bouncing around in my head for a while, but I always managed to find “really” good reasons not to follow through with it: time, privacy, fear. However, I reached a point where it simply hinged on obedience. Was I going to obey God, or was I going to continue pushing back.
Delayed Obedience is Disobedience
When our children were younger, we would tell them “delayed obedience is disobedience.” The truth of that statement doesn’t diminish with age, so it was time to make a decision. I would either move forward with this thing, and be obedient to what I believe God was asking of me, or I would stall, rationalize and avoid to a point of spiritual disobedience.
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.
Jeremiah 7:23 (ESV)
I’m a work in progress, for sure. Sometimes I get it right, and other times I fall short. But “Watch me!” is my theme for now as I strive to live the life God has created me to live. Godly obedience can seem scary because sometimes, but not always, it pushes us outside of our comfort zone. But this I know for sure.
You never will regret being faithful to God’s call.
What’s your next step? Often, it’s just about getting out of the boat!
Be sure also to read:
- Get Out of the Boat: Developing Faith Over Fear
- Fear Not, Even When You Feel Afraid
- Outside My Comfort Zone
You Might Also Like:
Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone | It’s Worth the Risk
Get Out of the Boat: Developing Faith Over Fear
How To Develop a Daily Quiet Time
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