The Work of the Spirit unto Obedience
Obedience flows like power steering—still guided by your hands, but effortlessly empowered within.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional from Bob Hoekstra reminds us that true obedience doesn’t spring from our best intentions or self-effort—it flows from the indwelling Spirit of God. We were never designed to walk in God’s ways by sheer willpower. Instead, God promised something far more beautiful: He would place His own Spirit within us and cause us to walk in His statutes.
When we were made new in Christ, we received more than forgiveness—we received a new heart and a new Spirit. This is not a patching up of the old self; it is a new creation entirely. Yet, this new life still operates in a body prone to old cravings. The difference now is that we don’t have to strive to conquer those desires. God never intended for us to battle sin in the flesh; instead, He invites us to yield to the Spirit who puts those old ways to death and brings forth Christ’s life through us.
This cooperation is not mechanical—it is relational. As we walk in dependence, we discover a Spirit-empowered obedience that isn’t burdensome or exhausting. When we resist the Spirit’s promptings, we experience disconnection. But when we walk in yielded trust, we find ourselves living as God intended: led by the Spirit, walking in obedience, and delighting in God’s will not out of duty, but as the overflow of divine life within us.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am the One who made you new—completely, entirely, and eternally. I placed My Spirit within you not to observe your striving, but to express My life through your yielded heart. You are no longer a slave to cravings that once ruled you. You are Mine, and I dwell within you.
I do not drive you to obey Me; I draw you. The life I form in you is not the result of pressure but of Presence. I am in you to cause you to walk in My ways—not through your might, but through My quiet inner prompting. When you yield to Me, I put to death those old patterns and bring forth the fragrance of Christ.
You are not left to manage sin—you have been crucified with Christ. Let what is dead remain dead, and live by My life instead. Walk with Me in trust, not tension. Your obedience is not a test of your strength but a testimony of your surrender.
Don’t quench what I stir in you. When I nudge, respond. When I whisper, listen. For I am not distant—I am within, leading you moment by moment in the ways of life and peace. Those led by Me reveal that they are children of God—not merely by what they resist, but by who they reflect.
Scriptures referenced: Ezekiel 36:26–27; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:5–6; Romans 8:13–14; Galatians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
🔑 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like having power steering in your car. Without it, turning the wheel is a strain, especially at low speeds. But with it, even a gentle touch guides the whole vehicle. The steering still involves your hands—but the effort is no longer yours alone. So it is with the Spirit—you still move, but the power beneath the movement is His.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I rejoice that obedience is not something I muster up—it is something You manifest in me. Thank You for placing Your Spirit within me to cause me to walk in Your ways. I no longer need to wrestle with the flesh in my own strength or try to make something godly from what You’ve already crucified. I rest in the reality that You are the One who leads, corrects, renews, and enables. Today, I walk as one who is led by the Spirit, confident that You will express Your life through me.