Thoughts from My Utmost for His Highest

"If we are in love with the Lord, obedience does not cost us anything---it is a delight"

I love my parents so I do what they ask me to do and in the end I feel good about obeying them just like we should love the Lord enough to do what He asks us to do.

"Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent?"

Like Charles Stanley says "Obey God and leave ALL the consequences Him"

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Right now I am reading through Esther. I am starting Chapter 7 today.

Here is a little bit of what I have written down from the past Chapters:

- God is powerful. If we trust Him He will help us get through tough times but it might not be on our time schedules or when we think it would be best. God might have different plans.

-Be careful that you do not make hasty decisions. You may come to regret them later. Pray and ask God for wisdom in every situation no matter how big or how small.

- If you had a decision to make and you had two chooses (1) Do it God's way and obey Him no matter what happens or (2) Do it the worlds way and the easy way. Which one would you pick?

- "... and Esther obtained favour in the sight of all who saw her." We as Christians are supposed to be different from others [the world]. If we live godly lives others will notice the difference in us. What are we looking like to others?

- Esther 3:1-2 says "¹After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him.²All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage. " NASB [New American Standard Bible]

(This is from the study note in my Bible)

"Mordecai's determination came from his faith in God. He did not take a poll first to determine the safest or most popular course of action; he had the courage to stand alone. Doing what is right will not always make you popular . Those who do right wil be in the minority, but the obey God is more important than to obey people."

Acts 5:29 says " ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."" NASB

-Doing the right thing can be the hardest sometimes but it is worth it. We might not get quick responses or see the results right away but we know that God is in control of everything and will do it all in His time.

- God will protect His people. No matter what happens God is still in control.

- God can see the bigger picture. When things seem to be going all wrong remember this...

"⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

TRUST GOD!!

- No one can erase God from the picture. He is always there. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 NASB He was there with Esther and He is here today.

~K