What does the Lord . . . ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve [him] . . . with all your heart and . . . soul . . . ?

— Deuteronomy 10:12

Each day brings challenges to walk in obedience to God.

Sometimes we get off track following friends headed in the wrong direction. We can have strong desires for material possessions, popularity, and behaviors that do not please the Lord. We might fear what others think or say and stop following the Lord. These are only a few ways in which we struggle to obey God and stay on the path he has marked out for us. Under some circumstances, we do not resist wrong desires and overwhelming fears; they distract us, consciously and unconsciously.

God calls us, however, to live in ways that honor him and align with his Word. With the Holy Spirit's help, we can live an obedient life as we follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is our example. He remained obedient even as he died on the cross for our sake.

What should we do with distractions that tempt us to disobey God’s Word? We can stay close to the Lord by asking the Holy Spirit to help and strengthen us. We can take captive our sinful thoughts and desires (2 Corinthians 10:5). We can anchor ourselves in the Lord so that we are not easily swayed by our sinful nature. We can delight in the Scriptures and meditate on God’s Word.

Lord, I want to walk in obedience. Give me the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to faithfully follow Jesus with all my heart and with all my soul. Amen.