Following God’s Leading 3: The Will to Obey

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles

Acts 1:26

In the past three days, we have been considering how we can position ourselves to be led by God using the disciples’ dilemma in filling the vacant apostolic office as a case study. We have talked about allowing God’s word to dwell richly in our hearts, and the role of prayer. Today, we’ll discuss our hearts’ readiness to obey.

One of the things that stood out in the disciples’ quest for direction was their readiness to obey whatever outcome resulted from their seeking God. They understood that the key to hearing from God and receiving His guidance is not only in their prayers and actions but also in the posture of their hearts.

Obedience is often the first step in understanding God’s will for our lives. When our hearts are surrendered to God and aligned with His purposes, we become receptive vessels for His direction. The apostles’ willingness to obey, regardless of the outcome, revealed their trust in God’s sovereignty and wisdom.

As Christians, we can learn valuable lessons from the apostles’ example. Our posture of obedience sets the stage for God to work in our lives and reveal His plans to us. When we approach God with hearts that are ready to obey, He can easily direct us through any means—whether it be through His Word, prayer, circumstances, or the counsel of others.

However, cultivating a posture of obedience requires humility, trust, and surrender, relinquishing our own desires and submitting them to God’s will. When we adopt this posture, we open ourselves up to God’s leading and allow Him to guide us in the paths He has prepared for us.

PRAYER