Finding Freedom and Rootedness Through Spiritual Obedience in New Seasons
We often enter a new season of life—whether it is a new year, a career shift, or a change in relationship status—brimming with anticipation. The horizon looks bright, and the possibilities seem endless. We imagine that this fresh start will finally provide the autonomy we have been craving. Yet, as we begin to walk out into this new reality, a strange phenomenon frequently occurs. The initial excitement fades, replaced by a gnawing sense of discomfort or dis-ease. We expect liberation, but we feel the pressure of new constraints pushing down on us.
This tension creates a critical decision point for the mature believer. Cultivating a life of depth requires us to look beyond the surface-level anxiety of the unknown and examine the structural integrity of our faith. Building on the stillness we discussed in Resilience Is Grace: Finding the Strength to Rise When You Hit the Ground, we learned that resilience is often about how we inhabit the quiet moments after a fall. Furthermore, in Authenticity in Action: The Engine of True Alignment, we explored how to align our inner truth with our outer actions. Now, we must examine the framework that holds it all together.
True stability in a shifting world is not found in the absence of rules, but in the presence of the right ones. We desire inner peace that external pressure cannot bend, and a capacity to make decisions free from confusion. The key to unlocking this stability is a concept that modern culture often rejects, but the soul desperately needs: spiritual obedience. This is not about restriction; it is about designing a life capable of holding the weight of God’s glory.
The Illusion of Absolute Autonomy
Modern culture aggressively markets a specific definition of freedom. We are told, “Just do whatever you want. Autonomy is the goal. Go with the flow.” The prevailing wisdom suggests that true liberty is the complete absence of restriction—that if we can just remove every rule and expectation, we will finally be ourselves. However, this philosophy never holds up in the long run.
When we drift without boundaries, we paradoxically find ourselves experiencing more tension and tighter constraints. We end up paralyzed by the sheer volume of choices, none of which carry the weight of conviction.
There is a spiritual dynamic at work beneath this cultural narrative. The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that God’s laws and precepts are “killjoys,” designed solely to box us in and keep our lives small. This deception suggests that spiritual obedience is the antithesis of freedom. Consequently, many believers unknowingly adopt a lifestyle of unrestricted choice, responding to life based purely on how they feel in the moment.
We assume that if we feel it, we must pursue it, and that any barrier to that pursuit is an infringement on our liberty.
However, the Scriptures offer a sobering counter-truth. Romans 6:16 reminds us that whatever we yield ourselves to, we become slaves of. If we decide that this new season is the time to “just be ourselves” and follow our emotions wherever they lead, we do not become free; we become slaves to our own reactions.
We end up bound by our fleeting feelings, striving to control situations because we lack internal stability. This approach is a drift, not a foundation, and control is ultimately an illusion. True liberty is not the ability to do whatever we want; it is the power to do what we were designed to do.
The Architecture of Alignment
If we strip away the cultural misconceptions, we see that spiritual obedience is actually the architect of our freedom. God’s design—His rules, precepts, and commands—are not arbitrary barriers. They are the structural specifications required to build the “10-10 life,” the life of abundance and fullness promised in John 10:10. Just as an architect places load-bearing walls not to limit the space but to ensure the building doesn’t collapse, God places precepts in our lives to ensure we can withstand the pressures of reality.
Think of a high-speed train. A train is a marvel of engineering, capable of immense power and speed. However, that train can only fully operate and function when it stays on the tracks.
Those tracks represent God’s ways and precepts. As long as the train submits to the “restriction” of the tracks, it is free to move with purpose and velocity. If the train decides the tracks are too restrictive and attempts to move “autonomously” across a field, it does not find freedom; it finds catastrophe. It ceases to be a train and becomes a wreck.
The tracks are not the enemy of the train’s motion; they are the prerequisite for it.
In the same way, you and I are designed to run on the tracks of God’s truth. Spiritual obedience is simply aligning your life with the universe’s design so that you eliminate the friction of going against the grain of reality. When we submit to God’s ways, we are aligning with the very things He put in place to ensure our safety and maximize our potential.
Jesus said in John 8 that the truth will set us free. Since He is the Truth, aligning our lives with His commands is the only pathway to genuine liberty. Submitting to God’s ways is the law of true liberty.
Escaping the Friction of Disobedience
When we operate outside of spiritual obedience, we experience friction. Life feels harder than it needs to be because we are essentially moving against the grain of how we were created. We struggle to manufacture peace, we strive to manufacture joy, and we work tirelessly to curate an image of success. But when we align with God’s design, that friction dissipates. We are no longer fighting the Creator’s intent.
This alignment allows us to access the resources of Heaven. Just as a building connected to the power grid lights up without effort, a life connected to God’s precepts through obedience lights up with His power. We stop trying to be the source of our own strength and start becoming conduits of His.
This is where the 10-10 life becomes a reality—not a life without problems, but a life with the structural integrity to handle them with joy.
Cultivating Confidence Through Submission
When we consistently practice spiritual obedience, the fruit is not boredom or oppression; it is a profound, unshakable confidence. Whether you are navigating a new job, a new relationship, or a new year, God has provided beautiful guidelines to ensure your success. As we submit to these guidelines, we find ourselves walking in confidence that grows day by day.
This confidence stems from the knowledge that our decisions are empowered by peace rather than panic.
When we are aligned with God’s design, we possess a rootedness that often surprises even us. We stop fighting against the very guardrails God designed to lead and protect us. Instead of anxiety about the future, we develop a peace that transcends understanding because we are trusting the Architect of the season we are walking into.
We know that if we stay on the tracks, the destination is secure.
People around us will notice this shift. They may say, “There is something different about this person,” recognizing a stability that the world cannot offer. We will know the secret: our life is built on the firm foundation of submitting to God’s ways.
Galatians tells us it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Spiritual obedience is how we remain in that freedom, refusing to be entangled again by the yoke of slavery—even if that slavery disguises itself as “autonomy.”
Building Strength for the Future
The pursuit of spiritual obedience requires diligence. It is akin to an athlete training for a prize; the discipline yields the victory. It involves consistently doing what God says, even when it feels uncomfortable at the start. This is how we build a life that can weather storms and flourish in new seasons.
We must be willing to endure the temporary discomfort of saying “no” to our flesh to say “yes” to the Spirit.
For many of us, the desire is there, but the practical tools for implementation are missing. We need a blueprint to help us construct this life of alignment. If you are looking to deepen this practice, consider investing in your growth through the STRONGER Course. This resource is designed to help you find strength in the Lord and, more importantly, give you the tools to transform your personal leadership style—empowering those around you. This growth isn’t just for you. It’s meant to flow to your employees, congregation, co-workers, and family. By investing in yourself, you’re investing in your entire organization. Did you know: You get a Free Zoom session with John as part of the course?
What are you waiting for? Start today.
Redefining Obedience
As we look toward a better tomorrow, we must redefine how we view the concept of obedience. It is time to stop viewing God’s commands as restrictions and start viewing them as the necessary tools for walking into the fullness of His promises. Obedience is the key that unlocks the door to the very freedom we have been chasing.
Start this week by picking one small step of spiritual obedience that you can consistently adhere to. It might be a discipline of silence, a commitment to generosity, or a specific alignment in your integrity regarding your speech. Watch how confidence, joy, and freedom begin to grow in your life as you stay on the tracks.
Your better tomorrow starts with the decisions you make today.
Bible References
- Romans 6:16: “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey…?”
- John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
- John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
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