CONVERSATIONS: Be it ge'ng up to go to work, or stopping at the red light., doing the right thing, doesn’t come easy, all the :me. But we do it anyway, knowing it’s for our own good. So how do we develop the ability to obey God? 1.  Decide Ahead of Time. The :me to make a decision is not during the heat of an argument, or when a flirta:on, or tempta:on is near. Decide today that you will follow the Lord and honor Him with your life choices. Early convic:ons help you make strong choices. Fill your heart and mind with verses and God’s word on a regular basis. This is why His word is called “our daily bread”. It is what will nourish you and keep you strong when tempta:on makes you hungry for the wrong thing. 2. Choose sacrificial Love. Not Duty Love. Loving someone involves some element of sacrifice. That’s what a mother does for her baby as she spends sleepless nights nursing, or a father working to feed his family. Our willingness to suffer and sacrifice, out of love, not out of duty, forms strong rela:onships with our loved ones. Jesus came to save us, not out of duty, but simply because He loved us even to the point of sacrificing his life for us. He is our Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. The way we obey the Lord, reveals the quality of our love for Him: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. . . “ John14:15-­‐16 3. The Holy Spirit will enable you. Let’s read verse 15-­‐ 16 again: 15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. . . “ John14:15-­‐16 When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, the formerly fearful men, became bold followers of Jesus. They were willing to keep their faith and trust in Jesus, despite the threats to their lives. Jesus promised us his Holy Spirit to be our Strength and Help every day. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for your holy word. I make a decision today to love the Lord, my God with all my heart, soul and strength. When I don’t want to obey you, remind me of how much You love me so sacrificially. Help me to remember that your rules are always for my good and the good of my love ones. That obedience is always rewarded and sin always has consequences. Holy Spirit, I need your help. Grant me the strength to say “no” to sinful desires of my flesh, and “yes” to the promises of God. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.