Has the LORD

as great delight

   in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying

         the voice of the LORD?

Behold,

to obey is

      better than sacrifice,

and to listen

      than the fat of rams.

             1 Samuel 15. 22

("Follow Me in this."

Nothing else matters.

To listen and respond to the LORD 

       transcends anything else

       we can possibly do.

There are no insignificant obediences.

Faithfulness stays the course

  in whatever God places before us.

To obey the LORD and follow Him

    is going to look very differently

              in this broken world.

How am I responding to what

    is before me today?

I may not understand,

                but God is in it.)

O LORD,

Help us to listen to You,

to walk with You,

to respond to Your nudges,

to place aside our idols

         and hurt feelings

         and pride,

to simply obey You.

Obedience is

        not following a command,

   but a loving response.

Help us to live differently,

to bring grace and healing

in unexpected places

       and catch others by surprise

       by loving them.

Even among those who don't

               love us back,

    to love them even more.

"It is not I who live,

   but Christ who lives in me."

             (Galatians 2.20)