“…God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 30:12

The Heart To Obey

I’ll admit I don’t always want to do the right or best thing. I don’t even always want to want to do it. There is often a very fine line between what would be permissible versus what would be profitable, and I am very good at balancing it.

This happened to me last week. I wanted to buy something that I had the money to buy. My bills were paid, my groceries were stocked, the kids were wearing clothes that fit. To top it off, the item that I wanted to purchase was on sale, and who knew when such a sale would be available to me again? In a different household, on a different day, this would be the perfect scenario in which to go ahead with the purchase. But in my particular household, on this particular day, I knew deep in my heart that my husband really didn’t want me to spend that money. I also knew that my husband might never know.  

So I prayed a prayer I often pray. I prayed that God would give me the desire to do what I knew would be the wisest decision that day. I don’t want to want things for myself that God doesn’t want for me. So I opened my Bible, and the first verse I turned to was, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Even though I have learned to expect it, I am still amazed that when I sincerely ask God for help and wisdom, He does indeed give it. My heart just has to be soft enough to hear and receive what He is saying.

The next passage I read that day was in 2 Chronicles 30. Verse 12 practically jumped off the page to my eyes, and I knew that God was going to answer my prayer. He had heard my desire to desire His desires. He knew that I could not get there on my own strength. He was assuring me that since I had determined to obey Him, and asked for His help, He was going to help me.

How often do we want something that may not be God’s best for us? We may have freedom in it, yet we know it would not be the best choice. God really will give you the strength, if you are brave enough to first determine to follow Him.

“Dear heavenly Father, thank You for hearing the deepest cries of our hearts, and for helping us in every situation. Keep us soft to receive Your wisdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”