Practical obedience

Living Out Obedience to God in Daily Life

What Does Obedience to God Look Like in Everyday Life?

Obedience to God is often seen as following commandments or rules, but in reality, it is so much more. Biblical obedience is a heart attitude, a way of life that affects how we respond to YAH’s Word in the smallest of moments and the largest of challenges. Obedience is not confined to big, monumental decisions but is woven throughout the fabric of our daily lives—how we speak, what we do, how we love, and how we make decisions.

Obedience in the Little Things

We tend to think of obedience as something extraordinary—like when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac in Genesis 22. God told Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering, and without hesitation, Abraham obeyed. The magnitude of Abraham’s obedience in that moment is undeniable. He was willing to give up his promised son in faith, trusting that YAH had a plan even when it didn’t make sense. God rewarded Abraham’s obedience by sparing Isaac and reaffirming His covenant with him (Genesis 22:15-18).

However, most of our daily walk with YAH involves much more subtle acts of obedience. It’s in the quiet moments when we choose to honor Him, even when no one is watching, that obedience truly shines. For example, when the Holy Spirit prompts us to act—whether it’s calling a friend, offering kindness, or simply being patient—we are obeying God in those little moments.

I have personally found that obedience often comes in the small, everyday situations. It’s in how I respond to my husband or children, how I react to stress, and even in the choices I make when no one else is around. For example, when my children are misbehaving, I’m tempted to react out of frustration. But in that moment, obedience to God means choosing patience, kindness, and gentleness, as instructed in Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Obeying in those quiet moments might seem insignificant, but these decisions reflect our heart for God.

Listening to the Holy Spirit

Obeying isn’t always about following a rule—it’s about hearing and responding to God’s leading through the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us in all truth (John 16:13). In everyday life, this might look like sensing God’s guidance in a moment when we’re unsure what to do. Sometimes obedience is not about following a set of written instructions but about listening for God’s voice.

For example, there are times when the Holy Spirit will prompt me to take a step of faith—maybe to reach out to someone I haven’t spoken to in a while, or to take a certain action that seems small but could be significant. Obedience in this context requires tuning our hearts to listen to YAH’s voice, even in the quietness of our thoughts.

It’s like when Daniel was in exile in Babylon—despite being surrounded by a pagan culture, he remained obedient to God’s Word and continued his practices of prayer, trusting God with his life (Daniel 6:10). In Daniel’s life, we see that obedience is not just about following a set of rules—it’s about choosing God’s ways over the world’s ways, even when it’s difficult.

Obeying YAH in Relationships

Obedience to God also plays out in how we relate to others. The Bible is clear that loving our neighbors is a form of obedience to YAH. Yeshua Himself said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and one of His most important commandments is to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). This kind of obedience affects how we interact with our spouses, children, friends, and even strangers.

In my own life, I find that my obedience to God in relationships often requires humility. When I choose to serve my husband with love and respect, even when I’m tired or frustrated, I’m obeying YAH. When I choose to listen to my children’s needs with patience, I’m showing obedience to God’s call to love them sacrificially. In these everyday interactions, obedience means surrendering our personal desires for the sake of love and respect.

The Importance of Trusting YAH in Obedience

Ultimately, biblical obedience goes beyond a simple act of following commands—it’s about trusting God. Abraham’s obedience was grounded in his trust that God would fulfill His promises, even when it seemed impossible. In Genesis 22:12, when God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, He said, “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham’s obedience demonstrated his deep trust in YAH, and it was this trust that God honored.

Similarly, in our everyday lives, obedience is rooted in trust. We trust that God’s way is better than our own and that His commands lead to life. This trust is built through prayer, reading Scripture, and walking with YAH daily. It is trusting that He knows what’s best for us, even when it’s hard to understand or when His ways seem counterintuitive.

Conclusion

Submissiveness to YAH is not just about following a set of rules or fulfilling big, dramatic commands. It’s about living each day with a heart that is responsive to God’s Word and His Spirit. It’s about applying the principles of Scripture to our relationships, decisions, and actions. Just as Abraham’s obedience tested his trust in YAH, so too does our obedience in the little moments of daily life test our trust and faith. In these moments, we are showing the world that we belong to God, that we are willing to honor Him in both the big and small things. By making obedience a daily choice, we draw closer to YAH, trust Him more deeply, and reflect His love to those around us.