God Honors Obedience - May 14, 2025

Scripture:
”But Samuel said, ‘What makes the Lord happy? Which is better? Is he more pleased when people offer burnt offerings and sacrifices to him? Or is he more pleased when people obey him? Listen! It is better to obey the Lord than to offer sacrifices to him. That is true even if you offer to him the best animals that you have.”
— 1 Samuel 15:22 (EASY)

Devotional:
In this life, we’re often taught to follow our own minds, listen to our hearts, and live life our own way.
And honestly? That sounds great if your heart, mind, and lifestyle are grounded in God’s voice.
Because at the end of the day, the truest freedom doesn’t come from doing things our way, but doing things God’s way!!!

1 Samuel 15:22 makes it plain:

Obedience is better than sacrifice.
God wants more than what we can “give” Him.
Yes, He wants our time, our worship, our heart, and our lives
But more than that, He wants us to listen.
He wants us to trust.
He wants us to obey.

Think about it: even the winds and the waves obey Him,
so what makes us think obedience isn’t just as expected of us?

Here’s the real part:
Obedience doesn’t always feel good.
Sometimes God’s instructions pull us out of what’s easy.
Sometimes it stretches us into unfamiliar places.
Sometimes it shuts our mouths when we want to speak…
Or asks us to stay when we want to run.

But every time, it works for our good.
God sees what we don’t.
He knows what we need and what will destroy us.
He’s not withholding comfort. He’s preparing victory.

So when God tells you to move, trust Him.
When He says “No,” listen.
When He whispers “Wait,” hold on.
Because your obedience is not wasted.
God will honor it!! Every single time.

Reflection/Challenge:
Ask yourself: Have I been obeying God or just offering Him sacrifices?
Have I been doing what sounds right… or what He actually told me to do?
Then make a shift. Start today. Start obeying.

Prayer:
Father God, in the Name of Jesus,
Thank You for today.
Thank You for Your Word.
Thank You for caring so much about me that You sent a word directly to my heart — because You knew I needed it.

You want the best for me, and I truly appreciate You.
Lord, I first want to ask You for forgiveness for all of my sins and shortcomings — and I receive Your forgiveness in my heart.
Thank You for the gift of repentance through Jesus Christ.
I truly love You with everything that is in me.

Thank You, Jesus, for my life.

Lord, I know You require me to give You my time, my worship, and my attention — but even more than that, You require my obedience.
To Your Word.
To Your Spirit.
To Your will.

Because obedience proves my trust.
It proves my love.
It proves my willingness and commitment to live for You.

Even when it feels hard,
Even when I don’t understand,
Help me to obey You anyway.

Let me trust that You know more than I ever could.
Let my heart respond to You quickly.
Help me not to harden my heart, but to listen, to yield, and to walk in alignment with Your voice.

Let my life reflect the truth that obedience is better than sacrifice.
I believe, Lord, that You’ll honor every step of surrender.

I love You so much.
I pray that my obedience blesses someone else’s.
Let my actions spark someone else’s breakthrough.
Because it’s not about me — it’s about Your Kingdom.

You've been faithful all my life — so I have no reason to think otherwise now.
I will live in Your goodness.
From the moment I wake up to the moment I lay my head, You are holding me.

I thank You for Your goodness.
I thank You for Your mercy.
I thank You for Your love.
I thank You for it all.

I pray that today is the best day — because Your glory will be revealed in my life.

In Jesus’ most precious name I pray,
Thank God, and Amen.