I trust you have been blessed for those of you who joined me in the three-day challenge from our recent post, “The Joy of Obedience: How Following God’s Word Transforms Your Heart.” As promised, today, I want to reflect on this journey of obedience together and hear how God worked in your heart. If you missed the challenge, you can still read the original post [linked here] and join us in the comments below. Let us rejoice in what the Lord has done as we sought to walk in His Word. In that original post, we stuck to just a simple three-day challenge. Over the past three days, I have looked forward to reflecting on the joy of obedience with you.

The Three-Day Challenge

In our challenge, we focused on three commands from Scripture, each designed to help cultivate joy through obedience. On Day 1, we gave thanks in all circumstances, following 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” On Day 2, we chose to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to one another, obeying Ephesians 4:32: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” On Day 3, we loved others as Christ loves us, following John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Each day, we read a related passage, prayed for God’s help, obeyed the command, and journaled the impact on our hearts.

Personal Reflections

Day One: Giving Thanks

Allow me to share my reflections on this challenge. On Day 1, I helped a brother-in-Christ do some very hard things. We worked together for the majority of the day. Fresh off of writing the opening challenge post, I specifically chose giving thanks as the day’s challenge. I knew it would be hard. My help was needed because my friend was in his hard situation because of the actions of others (which I am not sure how to categorize those actions). I recognized that I would need to focus on giving thanks throughout the day so that my attitude, words, and actions did two things: honored the Lord and helped my friend honor the Lord. Instead of grumbling, I thanked God for as many creative things as I could throughout the day and the opportunity to trust Him. As it stayed top of mind and I prayed throughout the day, my heart primarily rested in the Lord and stayed toward gratitude rather than irritation. In reality, striving to give thanks helped me enjoy the work with my friend and enjoy my friend in ways that were actually encouraging. Truly, giving thanks brought joy, as Psalm teaches, “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart” (Ps 119:111).

Day Two: Showing Kindness

On Day 2, I focused on being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. On this day, I performed a service project with my Rotary friends, had lunch to facilitate a needed conversation, visited two hospitals for lengthy visits, and spoke in the local high school baccalaureate service. Throughout all these events, this verse stayed in front of me. The issues in my own heart were not as pressure-filled as Day 1; instead, they were more nuanced. I reflected on my conversation with others in each of these events. I sought to obey Ephesians 4:32 by praying a prayer of blessing, seeking to be encouraging and affirming my care for some, and demonstrating kindness by asking questions with careful listening rather than talking too much. At the end of the day, my heart felt happy, and I sensed God’s presence in a fresh way. Obedience to His command of being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving brought freedom and joy, just as was discussed in the original post.

Day Three: Loved Others as Christ

On Day 3, I sought to love as Christ loves, following John 13:34. (The examples I will share reflect my day and are not meant in any way for righteous credit. God knows I need to do better each and every day for His glory!) I started my day serving with Rotary again in a local school. Desiring to love as Christ, I sat down with a few individual children who seemed burdened or alone. I asked questions and sought to listen well to them, asking further questions rather than simply dispensing an opinion. While walking through the hospital, I noticed a friend in the hallway out of breath from a long walk. I offered to sit with my friend and talk a few moments. While sitting, I realized this person was on his/her second trip to the cafeteria because of a forgotten wallet. I accompanied the person to the cafeteria and insisted on buying the meal. I also took the time to carry their food back to the hospital room to better help the breathing problem. While walking, I remembered my wife occasionally asks me to slow down, so I intentionally walked slowly for this person. This person’s smile and gratitude warmed my heart, but even more, I enjoyed the joy of reflecting Christ’s love. There were a few other times I specifically acted as a result of thinking through this verse. These acts of obedience deepened my awareness of the presence of God and reminded me that His commands are life-giving, not burdensome.

What about you?

Now, I would love to hear from you. How did this challenge impact your heart? Did you sense God’s presence as you gave thanks, were kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, or loved others? Perhaps you discovered for the first time or remembered again, as I did, that obedience truly is a pathway to joy. Share your reflections in the comments below, on social media, or through the contact link – I read every response and am blessed to hear how God is working in your life.

As we close, let us remember together the psalmist’s words: “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (Psalm 119:16). Obedience to God’s Word transforms our hearts and fills us with joy. If you found this challenge meaningful, consider choosing another command to focus on next week – perhaps humility (Phil 2:3) or encouragement (1 Thess 5:11). Let us continue to walk in His law, seeking the joy that comes from following our Savior.