“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15

Principles In God’s Word

For a number of years Floyd and I led a one-year leadership development training program. It was a privilege to pour into the lives of young leaders things that we had learned over decades of service. It was such a joy to do this. Of all the “seasons” of our lives, I would say this is one that we found immensely fulfilling. We loved doing this.

One of the learning tools we used was looking at principles we could use from each experience of life. We would “debrief” things we walked through, and ask what are the principles in this situation that God has shown us for how to handle this. We’d do the same thing with passages of Scripture, seeking to learn the things God has taught us in the Word.

When our unexpected journey began, I immediately started thinking this way. I’m facing things I’ve never faced before…so what has God shown me that are His ways, His principles for being able to victoriously walk through this?

Some sprang immediately to mind.

– I needed to trust Him no matter what happened.

– I needed to keep my eyes on Him, not on the circumstances.

– I needed to go to the Word and meditate on His promises for hard times.

– I needed to take a stand against the enemy.

– I needed to be honest with the Lord, and pour out my heart to Him continually.

– I needed to admit my weakness so that I could receive His strength.

– I needed to be open and vulnerable so that others would know how to pray for me.

– I needed to lean into my friends to help me, because there’s no way I could make it through this all alone.

I’m not saying these things were “easy” to do, to live out. But I knew what the principles were to get through. I knew what I needed to do. I knew I needed to obey the things God has shown us in the Word for responding to trials and testings. It came down to obedience.

I realized that obedience is simply gratitude—thanking the Lord for how He helps us. Whatever He asks, whatever He has shown us to do, we just give it back to Him as worship by obeying. Obedience, in fact, is the highest form of worship. Worship is expressing our love to God, and one of the first ways we can express our love is by obeying His commandments.

For me, trusting Him has been the foundation stone on this journey. It’s what the Word teaches us to do. Whatever life throws our way, we trust Him, the One who is sovereign over all. I make that choice of obedience to trust. I lift it up as worship to Him because He is worthy of the trust. I speak out that He is good, and kind, and merciful, and caring. I declare, aloud, the truths of the Word of how trustworthy He is. I tell the enemy that he’s a liar if he tries to bring thoughts of God being anything but trustworthy. I thank God in words and song for being my firm Rock on which I can stand. Even if I’m nervous or fearful, He remains trustworthy. I declare His trustworthiness through my tears because He is unchanging even though my life and circumstances often change minute by minute.

His “grace has been sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9) for each need, each situation, each choice. He has been my “strength in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:10). He has “held my right hand” (Isaiah 41:13). He has “carried” me (Psalm 68:19) when I stumbled. How incredibly, wonderful, unfailingly faithful He is!

“Thank You for the principles You’ve set forth for our lives. Help us to walk in them. Amen.”