Obedience

Today I proclaim that the Lord is my God; that I will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments; and that I will obey His voice and observe His ordinances with my whole heart and with my whole being (cf Deuteronomy 26:16-17).

As the Holy Spirit is given by God to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32), I obey.

Let no one bewitch me to erroneously claim receipt of the Spirit by works and not by faith… faith by which I receive the blessings of Abraham who had faith (cf Galatians 3:1-2, 6-7, 14).

Let me continue to fear and serve You, LORD, to listen to Your Voice, O LORD, and not rebel against Your commands; and let both we, the Filipino people, and the “kings” who temporarily rule over us by popular election, follow You, O LORD our God— that all may be well and good with us and our country (cf 1 Samuel 12:14).

Let us simply obey You, Lord, like St. Stephen; let us not be like the stiff-necked people, in heart and ears outside God’s covenant, who are always opposing the Holy Spirit, as the Jews of yore who were unwilling to obey and turned their hearts back to Egypt, preferring “gods” and “idols” to be their leaders, taking up the tent of Moloch and the star of Rephan (cf Acts 7:51, 39-43).

Whether we like it or not, we will obey the command of the LORD, our God, … so that it may go well with us for obeying the command of the LORD, our God. (Jeremiah 42:6).

Lord, as we now know that we are slaves to the one whom we obey, I submit myself to obey You,  presenting myself as a slave to righteousness for sanctification (cf Romans 6:16-19).

Lord Jesus, let me follow and obey You, for Son though You are, You learned obedience from what You suffered and when You were made perfect, You became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey You, declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (cf Hebrews 5:8-10).

Lord, I obey, for You promised that all Your blessings for obedience, with victory and prosperity, will come upon and overwhelm us when we obey the voice of the LORD, our God; but if we do not obey then countless curses will come (cf Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 15-45); You also assured that if we listen to and serve You, we spend our days in prosperity, our years in happiness; but if we do not listen, we pass to the grave, we perish for lack of knowledge (cf Job 36:11-12).

I have faith in and obey Your Word, O Lord, for you guaranteed that just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall Your word be that goes forth from Your mouth; it shall not return to You empty, but shall do what pleases You, achieving the end for which You sent it (cf Isaiah 55:10-11).

Moreover, Father Almighty, LORD of heaven, great and awesome God, You preserve Your covenant of mercy with those who love You and keep Your commandments (cf Nehemiah 1:5).

I obey and abide in You, O Holy Spirit. For we know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what the intention of the Spirit is, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.  (Romans 8: 22-27)

I love and obey You, O Lord Jesus Christ. For we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined He also called; and those He called He also justified; and those He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (cf Romans 8:28-31)

Indeed, as St, Paul confirmed, in all these things (tribulations like those of sheep to be slaughtered) we conquer overwhelmingly through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced, continued St. Paul, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (cf Romans 8:36-39).

So... in, with and through Love, with humility, joy, peace, and reverence, I obey You, Lord: Father-Son-HolySpirit!

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References:

- Prayers That Activate Blessings, John Eckhardt © 2011, Charisma House, Lake Mary, 

   Florida

- New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)