The NIV 365 Day Devotional
God Doesn’t Require Our Understanding
God does not require us to understand his will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.
Do you often find yourself wondering why God doesn’t answer your prayers or why, despite all your best efforts, the circumstances of your life still don’t work out? The answer could lie in your level of obedience to God. Or waiting may be the result of God wanting you to be still, trust him and watch for his cue to move forward.
Any area of disobedience needs to be addressed. Sin prevents us from experiencing his best. Perhaps God has asked something of you, and in response, you have either ignored his words or done only part of what he asked. True obedience to God means doing what he says, when he says it, how he says it should be done and as long as he says to do it—regardless of whether or not you understand the reasons for it—until what he says is accomplished.
Before you try to make a list of everything God has ever asked you to do or not do, consider this: Is there one particular area of your life in which you struggle to obey the Lord? As you read Scripture, does he continually bring a specific sin to mind? When you go to him in prayer, does the same issue surface repeatedly? If the Lord is bringing something to your mind right now, consider this: It could be that you have been living in the same uncomfortable situation for years because at some point, you chose to do things your way instead of God’s way.
Obedience must be a priority in every believer’s life. It is the only way you will ever become the person God wants you to be and the only way you will ever achieve the things in life that he has so wonderfully prepared for you. It is the Holy Spirit who enables you to walk obediently before the Lord in his strength and his power.
So choose to obey him, even if you don’t understand why he asks you to do something. Have faith that his instructions are for your good (Jer 29:11). That way, you can become the person he wants you to be, do the work he desires of you, bear the fruit he enables you to bear and receive all the blessings he has prepared for you.
Taken from The NIV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible.