BEING IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH OBEDIENCE — Part 5

The View From Above: Thoughts To Help With Everyday Life

October 3, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

BEING IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH OBEDIENCE — Part 5

God created us for a relationship with Him.

Not everyone has that, but everyone can.

The pathway to a good, strong, healthy relationship with Jesus Christ is obedience.

The goal in parenting is to raise children that learn the benefit and virtues of obedience. That is going to follow them for the rest of their lives.

Obey parents, teachers, police officers and laws, bosses and customers, then of course spiritual leaders and pastors.

If you want to enjoy God’s perfect will for your life, it begins with having a heart that is willing to obey.

Why do we struggle so much and why do so many people live rebellious and reckless lives, never respecting authority and always chafing against surrendering and submission?

Well, quite simply, it’s because of our fallen, sinful, pride-filled nature.

That has to be overcome and it is part of the ongoing work of God in our lives.

I’m not talking about blind obedience that could land you into trouble…but a measured, willful surrender that is a result of having a relationship with Jesus and recognizes what pleases God.

I choose to obey, I choose to submit to the authority of God in my life.

I choose to submit to the spiritual headship that God has placed over my life.

When I do that, my relationship with God and others is at its best.

All obedience begins with what Jesus said are the two most important commandments:

Mark 12:30–31

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

It’s not just saying we do that, that’s easy…

It’s actually doing it in our day-to-day lives.

Accepting the challenges and sacrifices that those commandments imply.

Obey those commandments, make them the focus of your life, and you’ll find yourself in the will of God.

That’s a good place to start and continue your journey of obedience, submission, and prioritizing God’s will in your life.

With that as our foundation, a lot of other things will fall into place.

It’s because of our overwhelming love for God that we make our decisions and choices in life.

Because of our love for people and humanity, we serve and give to make their lives better.

Today is a good time to take inventory of the level of obedience in your life.

It may need some work.

We all have pockets of disobedience and even rebellion that may need to be addressed.

When you surrender to God’s will and commit yourself to a lifestyle and lifetime of obedience, ultimately and finally…

you’ll never be closer to Him.