This year, I wanted to write more about the complex and uncomfortable battles of our faith journey as single mothers and as healing women while parenting; I thought the topic of obedience for us as single moms and children was a great place to start.
Would you call yourself an obedient person? How obedient have you been to God or even other authority figures?
Obedience is one of those many terms that God has always meant for good, and sin/evil perverted it into a term that many cringe when it’s heard. If you ever talked to your children about obeying and watching their bodies curl up in a ball or ignore you the whole time. Which brings me to, what is obedience really? The way God intended.
What is Obedience?
Obedience is compliance with an order, request, law, or submission to another’s authority. Some synonyms include compliance, dutifulness, discipline, respect, and observance.
According to the Bible, God created and requested obedience in two ways: obedience to his voice (what he says) and the Word (which serves as his teachings, including Jesus).
Obedience in the Bible
Obedience in the bible shows up in different ways comparing old testament to the new testament. I remember reading the beginning story with Adam and Eve, where we focus on eating from the tree God told them not to. Yes, their actions were wrong, but it all stemmed from a heart not rooted in obedience.
Just in that story alone, we can see how one or a few people’s disobedience can affect future generations. Therefore, obedience is an important topic that needs to be covered, especially concerning parenting because we are raising most of our country, single moms.
There are many more stories and instances in the bible where disobedience was the root issue of many situations. I would encourage you to look back at a few, such as Jonah, Lot’s wife, Judas, Samson, and even Moses. But there are amazing stories of obedience that blessed so many in the bible, such as Noah, Mary, and even our Lord and Savior Jesus.
Obedience in Scripture
Through my study, I have found unique and exciting insight regarding God’s design for obedience and what it’s supposed to look like. Here are some scriptures for you to go back and study the topic on your own:
- Obey His voice & His commandments. Genesis 27:8 (Prominent throughout the Old Testament because they have not been exposed to the written word or Jesus yet.)
- Obedience is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22
- Obedience is all about keeping His Word. 1 John 2:5-6; Joshua 1:8 (observing/meditating on the word and keeping in mind Jesus, walking as He did.)
- Obedience is a form of expression for your love for God/Christ. John 14:15
- Obedience leads to grace and favor and brings good and years of pleasure and prosperity. John. 15:7, Isaiah 1:19, Job 36:11
- Obedience will sometimes get you access to greater understanding, revelation and mysteries. Luke 6:47-48 ( build on your the foundation of salvation)
- Christ requires obedience from everything. Matthew 8:27, Mark 4:41, Luke 8:25, Mark 1:27 (including the earth, water, wind, fire, animals and spirits)
- Obedience to God trumps obedience to man. Acts 5:29
- Obedience is learned and experienced, you are not born with it. Hebrews 5:8 (Jesus had to learn through His suffering, so will you and your children)
- Obedience requires listening before action. 1 John 2:4
- The enemy of Obedience is distraction. Galatians 3:1, 5:7 ( we have to recognize what distracts us from doing what we know we need to do to obey truth)
- Obedience is for God but also children must obey parents and any adult under leadership. Ephesians 6:1, Colossians 3:20, Hebrew 5:9 ( Doing this pleases God, and we must do in all things.)
- God is always ready to provide grace and mercy, no anger but kindness, even when we refuse to obey. Nehemiah 9:17 (when you repent though, if not, you will experience what is shared in Job 36:12, Jeremiah 18:10, and 2 Thessalonians 3:14)
Scriptures say a lot about obedience, but our focus for this post is the effect of our obedience to God and how that impacts our children’s obedience.
Obedience for the Single Mom and Their Children
As single moms, the most incredible thing we can do for our children is to grow our relationship with God. And part of that relationship requires obedience to the disciplines and the Word He provided for us all.
The whole reason why I began to write this post is because God has personally worked with me on obedience through discipline, which I see has had a significant effect on my daughter as well. As the scripture says:
”Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.“
Romans 5:19 NLT
The ‘many’ part pertains to the people connected to your life and purpose; your children are a part of the many. Therefore, I persuade you to review the scriptures above and talk to God in prayer, asking Him what to do to be more obedient. Reflect on prior years and what God has already talked to you about regarding obedience.
For example, God was working heavily on sharing my faith with others, praying in front of others, and being free in my worship toward Him. He nudged me to start with my daughter. I was resistant at first as flesh does not like challenges but instead wants to feel nothing but pleasure.
I began my playing worship music in the car on our daily commute. I stepped forward by singing freely to the worship songs, lifting my hands, and talking to God mid-song. I progressed further and further until she was able to witness one of my war cry prayer sessions where I was on my knees, face on the floor, tears coming down, and snot running from my nose.
God recently showed me why He asked me to operate in such a way, being obedient and in deep awe of Him. My daughter told me the other day that she has been praying to God to help her with a skill in gymnastics that she’s been struggling with. Yesterday, He answered her. He gave her the strength to complete her round-off back handspring.
I was just in awe of what she said to me. Coming from the mouth of a babe who has faith and knows to pray to God in her time of struggle, in her time of need, in her time of weakness, and giving credit to God when he answered the prayer. It took over 25 years to get to that place, but for her, only 8.
Obedience Changes the Path of Your Legacy
If what happened to my daughter didn’t bless you, then I don’t know what will. Through my obedience, 17 years of wasted time, because of trauma and strongholds, was removed from my family lineage.
I can tell as an observer that some of the older generations of family still struggle to obey, fully commit, and remain disciplined in the things of the Lord. 50 to 60 decades of the same cycle; I said I didn’t want that to come from my line. It stops with me!
I say all this to say that your obedience to God is not just for you but for the generations that will come after you. As I go back and read Genesis, I see how the choices of the parents/elders affected the next generation. So much that God had to reset the lineage and generations a couple of times before getting it redeemed with Jesus.
Satan and this world don’t want your children to ever amount to anything nor recognize who they are. It is our responsibility, single moms, to rebuke the schemes of the enemy to not only protect our children but also set the standard and nurture the generations coming after us. Obedience to God is vital in this effort!
There is a scripture that comes to mind when I think of a better understanding of obedience:
”But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.“
1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
Obedience to God’s voice and submission to His authority over your life is better than anything else you can do for Him and your and children. God is more pleased, and your children are blessed because you decided to give your life entirely to Christ.
Your child’s spiritual core is an essential part of their development. No overextending, busyness, or frugality will ever please God, nor make your children better off. This very thing measures it: how much you can:
”Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.“
Matthew 6:33 NLT”What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.“
Matthew 6:33 ERV
Never forget that He sees you and He knows your desire to be the best mom you can be. He knows that you don’t want your children to ever go through what you have been through and that you never want them to want for anything.
God likes that for you, too. He is only asking you to submit your life unto Him and do what He has instructed you to. In a nutshell, that is the obedience effect!
All in all,
I could have gone on and on about getting your obedient children naturally, but it’s when we get ahold of the root of the issue that we begin to see there has to be a parental seed of obedience modeling in the soil of the home, the family, the parent/child dynamic. And there is no better way than modeling in the spirit with your relationship with God.
I pray this post has blessed you and caused you to re-evaluate how your obedience has affected your relationship with God, your children, and beyond. Remember, this is not a pot to condemn but to refocus on what’s most important. Jesus loves you and so do I!
Need more direction on growing in obedience and developing of your children’s spiritual core?
Here are some similar post:
- 5 Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Father Figure For Your Children
- Teach A Child Self-Confidence With These Activities
- How To Respond When Your Child Doesn’t Want To Attend Church
- 14 Bible Verses To Remind You To Strengthen Your Relationship With God
- Trusting God As A Single Mom (6 Bible Verse To Help)
