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Obedience is better than sacrifice

    How do you know if you are being led in a new direction? You know when the anointing or your sense of purpose in a situation has changed.  It seems though that experience is now lacking the power or enjoyment that it used to have. Use your intuition perhaps it is the Holy Spirit speaking a new life into your existence.

   To understand this process let’s examine what God’s anointing means.  It can best explained as His special grace and favor over a person, task or circumstance. It is an extraordinary ability to perform a job or connect with others. And it is produces an awesome sense of accomplishment, joy and peace. So when God removes his favor from a relationship or ministry there is often a feeling of loss.  We may not feel ready to move on because of our personal investment (time and energy). Other times it is our sincere desire to see someone excel or repent that keeps us from obedience.  Yet consider the perspective of the prophet Samuel as he contemplated God’s decision:
“...Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.  The Lord said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided myself a king among his sons.” (I Kings 15:35, 16:1AMP.)

    In the passage God is asking for two things: faith and obedience. Samuel has to have an abiding hope in God’s will.  He also needs to act on God’s command. So often believers try to bargain with the Father, choosing to do a portion of what is asked instead of full compliance. This very attitude is found in Cain’s heart and led to irreparable sin (Gen 4:4-8). It was also evident in Saul who had is reign removed from him (I Kings 15). Don’t be haunted by disobedience and pride. God takes those offences seriously. His word says that “to obey is better than sacrifice [and that] stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (I Kings 15:22, 23 KJV). When we rebel against his instruction to us—even in part—we face repercussions. The consequences of those actions affect our blessings.

    Not everyone is going to agree with your new direction.  For those individuals you may have to “…shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” (Luke 9:5 KJV) Moreover, be confidant in your calling because “man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart.”(I Kings 16:7 AMP). God has an eternal perspective and recognizes the importance of your role in fulfilling His plan.