favor

And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD; (Proverbs 8:32-35, NRSV)

Did you ever not listen to your parents and do something they told you not to, or did something that you knew was not something they would want you to do?

Now if we are all honest the answer to that question is yes. We have all done stuff we know our parents would say is wrong, and we have all willfully done something that our parents told us not to.

But when you did that and your parents found out, as they always found out, were you happy?

No! We were not happy, we were caught and were going to be in deep deep doo doo!

And so it is with God. When we hear His word and do it, we are happy and filled with joy. We are wise and live the life He has called us to.

Will we always want to do what God is saying to do? Probably not, but it is always the right thing to do.