Daily Devotionals by Ardith Keef

     The issue is clear - are you willing to simply obey the Word of God or not?
     In counseling situations, the distressed Christian almost always has good reasons why in his case he should not obey the Word.
     The asserted loopholes range from "you don't know how terribly I have been treated" to "I just can't! I am just not able to do the thing the Bible says I must."
     There comes a point in the life of each believer when he must decide he is going to live as though dead to all else and live as unto Christ. When this is the case, he steps over an invisible but very real line, and he advances into a way of life that is above all circumstances.
     The Soldier of the Cross is still hurt when pierced. He bleeds real blood and cries real tears. But the thing that makes a Soldier is his enlistment in an army of the Lord in which  the purpose of existence is no longer to defend himself or take care of himself, but rather is has given himself over to obey.
     There is no such thing as sluggish obedience. Delayed, perhaps, but not sluggish.
     There is no such thing as conditional obedience. That is merely a rephrasing of control.
     There is no such thing as partial obedience.
     You can and you must.
     You have the indwelling Holy Spirit and that means that you have every provision.
     Yes, some must be delivered from demonic strongholds, but Blood-bought Brothers and Sisters have full capacity to yield to the One who bought them.
     Soldier, govern your body. That is what this is all about.
     You alone command your faculties and the Bible says you have the ability and freedom to obey.
     That doesn't mean you feel like you can, it just means you can!