God Desires Our Obedience and Not Our Help
What if full obedience to God means we stop offering Him our help?
Mama, can I help you make the cookies?
Mimi, I want to help you!
When my kids were little, they wanted to help bake sweet treats and sometimes even clean (that changed after a few years).
Now, my grandchildren find pleasure in helping for various tasks. And we always have little helpers to take our dogs outside on leashes.
While there are times I’d prefer to do these things myself for the sake of time and so I control the end result, how the cookies look and taste or how the bed is made, I enjoy helpers.
But my heavenly Father never requests my help or desires my assistance. Still, I often pray with a Plan A and Plan B written on my heart and under my breath, hoping the Lord reads between the lines unless I’m bold enough to say it out loud.
Writing these words and admitting them seems a bit ridiculous on my part. Because who am I to give help to the great I AM?
God’s Helper
Yet, I know in my heart, I want to be the Father’s little helper. It’s seen in my actions, attempts at controlling my own life and circumstances and in my lack of full obedience to God’s Word.
I know this to be true, but I struggle with breaking the helping-and-controlling cycle.
Are you used to having control? Do you jump in to fix a situation in your life or a family member instead of patiently waiting on the Almighty God?
Truth is, sometimes we strive to manipulate the outcome of our circumstances and perhaps the people in our lives. Even our Christian walk and full obedience to God may become things to control.
When we know the Lord is high and lifted up, sitting on a glorious throne and managing the details of our lives from heavenly places, trying to help only affects our greater good and best outcome.
Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about it.
What if full obedience to God means I stop offering Him my help? Because who am I to give help to the great I AM? Click To TweetObedience for Our Wellness
“But this command I gave them: ‘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, emphasis added)
(1.) Obedience leads to the abundant spiritual life the Lord intended for His children.
(2.) Obedience was crucial for God’s people to inhabit the Promised Land, and it’s crucial for us to inhabit God’s promised life.
(3.) Obeying helps us thrive on the Christian journey, not just survive.
(4.) Obedience unlocks God’s power and amazing wonders in our life.
(5.) Obeying is always for our good and God’s glory.
Obedience was crucial for God’s people to inhabit the Promised Land, and it’s crucial for us to inhabit God’s promised life. Click To Tweet
Know God and Reset Our Heart
“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 (NIV)
(1.) We posture ourselves before a Holy God who is worthy of worship.
(2.) Stay within earshot of the Shepherd’s voice by praying and reading the Bible.
(3.) We are aware of our weaknesses, vulnerabilities and temptations.
(4.) Let go of self-importance and bow before God in humility.
(5.) Examine our heart. Realize our natural disposition for control and ask the Lord to create in us a new heart.
Obedience: Walk After God and Hold Fast to Him
“You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 (ESV)
(1.) Walk in God’s ways. Children often have selective obedience, obeying one time and not another. As God’s child determine to walk in full obedience to God’s commandments.
(2.) Have a reverent fear—an awe—for God’s holiness and majesty. But do not be afraid of the enemy or in the midst of difficult circumstances. Both pale in comparison to God’s power and glory.
(3.) Hold fast to our heavenly Father by clinging to Him and His truth. Like children who are clingy physically or people who cling emotionally, cling to our Father in every way.
(4.) Move forward by following after the Lord. Obedience often hinges on moving. It’s hard to follow after God when we are resistant to move or follow after our own ways.
(5.) Quit limping between two different opinions—the world and the Word.
(6.) Serve the Lord whose voice we obey. The natural outcome to obeying God is serving under His direction and then idols won’t be an issue in our life.
“You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 (ESV) Click To TweetStop Offering God Help
Determine to stop offering God help by evaluating if we know God, hear the Father’s voice, obey for our wellness, walk in obedience and hold fast to God.
What ways do you find it hard to obey God but easy to attempt to help Him?
Also see, 5 Ways to Foster a Relentless Faith
This article first appeared on A Wife Like Me.
Featured photos from a video on our YouTube channel, Friday’s Forever.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
Friday’s Forever podcast discusses this article and more about obedience.
© 2021 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Amen. I’m holding on to God and knowing His plan is always the right one.
If we keep in mind, obeying is always for our good and God’s glory.
Well said ma’am. I’ve been guilty of those very same thoughts. And it’s so true; God does not need our help. He does expect our obedience. If we would only do what He instructs us to do, then we can accomplish so much more for His kingdom. Another terrific post Ms. Karen.
J.D., I pray often for the Lord to help me lay down my agenda for His will, and give up my kingdom for His Kingdom…the one that lasts forever, long after my kingdom crumbles. God bless. Appreciate your comment.
You certainly raised important issues to think about, Karen. How many are we willingly obeying God? Or, are we hanging onto insisting upon helping the very One who doesn’t need our help? Thanks for asking all of us to reflect upon what we are truly doing when we say we’re doing God’s will.
Blessings!
Martha, this is great, “are we hanging onto insisting upon helping the very One who doesn’t need our help?” Let’s “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 (NIV)
A while back, I realized that I often prayed for my children with a specific list of requests that I thought were best for them. Then it occurred to me that the Lord would work out what was best in our kids’ lives, regardless of what I thought was best. In fact, after I’m dead and buried, the Lord will still be taking care of our kids. It’s his work now, and it will be his work then. It’s not my job to assist the Lord along the way in case he can’t figure it out. The very idea makes me laugh, but how often do we “helpful” moms do exactly this? We must entrust those we love and all of our other concerns into the Lord’s hands. Being the sovereign God of the universe, he knows what he’s doing.
Melinda, this mom related to your every word. It is laughable. I pray we remind our hearts, “It’s his work now, and it will be his work then.” Surely the Lord knows our mama heart, one that wants our kids to be okay and to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. We can be that example of following the Lord in this way and obedience even when it’s hard or it’s not what we wanted.
I will hold Jesus’ hand and use my other hand to cover my mouth so I quit trying to help Him. You are so right, that God only needs my obedience and my hands and feet. He does not need my advice. Thanks for reminding me.
I like that, Yvonne, “use my other hand to cover my mouth so I quit trying to help Him.” 🙂 Great imagery for truth!
Ouch! This definitely hit a nerve! Thank you for reminding me:
“What if full obedience to God means I stop offering Him my help? Because who am I to give help to the great I AM?”
Same for me, Ava. I pray we remember, “But this command I gave them: ‘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)
Far too often, we assume the role of the Holy Spirit. As you say, we are to be obedient. We want others to follow Christ, but He has to do the leading in their hearts. Our obedience points the way far better than our judgment.
Oh, yes, Nancy! I agree, obeying the Lord points to Jesus “far better than our judgement.”
Karen, good morning! It’s like we see helping as easier and less demanding than obedience …
Linda, you’re on to something there. Obedience requires full surrender and abandon to the Lord, trusting Him with everything. Thanks for sharing!
This is a phrase I’ll have to ponder and ask the Lord to examine my heart, “I want to be the Father’s little helper.” Is this me, God?
Lisa, it certainly is a reflection to think on. I know, for me, I’ve attempted to give God help many times. I pray He helps me to instead walk in a daily surrender to Him and obey Him.
Oh Karen, what a powerful teaching! How I need this reminder again and again. He is the eternal God, Creator, I AM! If He created the heavens and the earth and knit my body together, maybe, just maybe, He can answer my prayers. According to HIS purposes and accomplishing HIS plans for the ultimate good. May we rest in His sovereignty and goodness. God bless you and your heart for our Father God and LORD Jesus!
Melissa, I like how you said, “If He created the heavens and the earth and knit my body together, maybe, just maybe, He can answer my prayers. According to HIS purposes and accomplishing HIS plans for the ultimate good.” Yes! I like to say, God is CEO. Am I in His seat? God bless!
Wow, absolutely right, Karen! We can be so arrogant sometimes. God knows what’s best and ALL we truly need to do is His will. He can do all things… answer my prayers, give me strength, create a compassionate heart with in me, everything.
Hey Jessica, it is a form of pride to want control,t o jump in to fix a situationinstead of patiently waiting on the Almighty God. I pray we don’t even try to contol our Christain journey and manipulate what we thing that looks like. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Wow! This is probably my favorite post from you in a long time. And I love everything you write, but this one hit home.
Thanks, Karen
Such a vivid image in my mind: my little hands fumbling tasks that God can do with ease. My notion that I am God’s northeast representative and he NEEDS my contribution is so out of line.
I’m guilty of giving God “suggestions,” yet dragging my feet when His will is clear. Which is so silly when I think about it. I need to remember He sees the big picture and knows what is best.
I’m having to be very patient with a situation that I want to step in and control, but I feel the Lord wants me to wait, wait, wait, so he can do HIS thing first. So I’m having to do this a lot: “Examine our heart. Realize our natural disposition for control and ask the Lord to create in us a new heart.” Thanks for the encouragement to stay the course in obedience.
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