Learning to accept this principal was totally different than learning the principle in itself. What I mean is that it's easy to say obedience leads to blessings but acknowledging it in realtime circumstances is sometimes very difficult; especially if those blessings are not the ones we hoped for, expected or self-reasoned. God's methods are not the same as those of men & women so it's quite often that things don't fall into place exactly the way we would have planned.

Learning to be content with God's provisions both now and for tomorrow is a cornerstone of obedience.

1. Trusting that He loves me more than I actually love myself is the first point.
2. Having faith that He can & will do better for me than I could do for myself is the second area that creates obedience. 

When we accept these two facts, we start on a path of intentionally choosing God's plan over our own. His plan is always in our best interest but how do we know what that plan looks like?

It comes in the time spent getting to know Him through His word. When we put the time & effort into getting to know God intimately, we put ourselves in a position to experience His miraculous power and overwhelming love for us. If I spend by best time with God and give Him my full attention, then I put myself in a position to hear from Him. When you really love someone you spend time with them, you listen to them, you share with them. You don't just ask for things all day & night. This is why I believe our quiet time needs to increase in quantity, quality and sincerity. When we intensify our effort to focus on God we allow our hearts the chance to hear instructions with direction and guidance.

If we want to be blessed by God, we must get to know Him not just know about Him. We have to experience God daily so we can develop a foundation to look back on and say "I remember when God did these miracles in my life." It will be a reminder for us to trust in Him more and a testimony for others to try His way.

Consider the time spent with God this week? Did it consume more or less than a football game? Did it consume more or less than the favorite TV series or reality show? Is there a place to go that provides enough quiet & peace where there are no disturbances? How much of God's word was taken in today? How much of it has been written on our heart (memorized) so we won't sin against Him?

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twh