Your Ever-Present Help… For Obedience

“If you love me, you will obey my commands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever…” (John 14:15-16, NCV).

A memory from long ago now comes back to me, as I meditate on this Scripture. I was babysitting a four-year-old boy. Only a teenager myself, I admonished him gently about the need to obey. The moment before, he had not heeded my instructions. I still remember how his sweet little face filled with remorse. His eyes wide and his voice quavering, he blurted out, “I want to be obedient!’

I get that! I want to be obedient too. I want Jesus to know how much I love Him. Do you, too? Our Scripture for today gives us great hope about this. We are not alone in our growth process towards becoming more mature in our obedience. “If you love me, you will obey my commands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever…” (John 14:15-16, NCV).

Do you see the link between the first and second sentences there? Our Savior has assured us a Helper on this daily journey of obeying. We don’t have to provide the strength, power, or ability towards this end… only the willingness. You point your heart in the right direction, lean into Holy Spirit, and He will fill in whatever else is missing. The Helper will be with you forever, and He will always help you obey.

So, need some help obeying today? Reach out and ask for it. The Holy Spirit is intimately near, eager to provide everything required. He will even help make your heart willing to obey, if you need Him to. Ask, beloved child, and you shall receive!

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Are you aware of the Holy Spirit’s empowering in your efforts to obey God day by day? Do you habitually lean in for His help?