To show that you believe

O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E
Since we have young children, this is such a relevant topic in our house right now.  Both of our boys are defiant, headstrong and stubborn.  Extremely so.  (and we fear that our daughter is probably the same way!... but what did we really expect since we are both defiant, headstrong and stubborn. Extremely so.) Being consistent in teaching them obedience is really important, especially at this stage.  One of the things we are working with our kids on is that obedience is only true obedience when we obey...

ALL the way
RIGHT away
and with a HAPPY HEART

Usually when they do what we ask, they are still not doing it by the above qualifications.  They obey begrudgingly, or they dawdle or they don't finish the job.  Obeying this way is not true obedience.

Hmm... starting to sound convicting?  It is to me.  I started thinking about this today...

Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, be subject to your own husbands..."

1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world nor the things of this world..."

These are some of the commands that God expects me to obey.  Easy?  Definitely not.  And then today I started thinking... am I really obeying God with the same qualifications that I require of my children?

ALL the way
RIGHT away
and with a HAPPY HEART

Definitely convicting...