Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal Obedience
SCRIPTURES: Deuteronomy 1:21; 26-28; 34-36
"Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged." Deuteronomy 1:21
“Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God; 27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” Deuteronomy 1:26-28;
34 “And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, 35 ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the Lord." Deuteronomy 1:34-36
Also, Numbers 13 and 14
"Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged." Deuteronomy 1:21
“Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God; 27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” Deuteronomy 1:26-28;
34 “And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, 35 ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the Lord." Deuteronomy 1:34-36
Also, Numbers 13 and 14

There is the possibility that some of us who are reading this devotional have been in the position of having lost, missed, or even resisted opportunities given to us by God. God had miraculously and decisively brought His people out of Egypt with the expectation that they would out of their faith and gratitude believe and obey Him. Their deliverance from bondage was for a divine purpose that was already prepared for them to walk in it. After eighteen months of God proving Himself to be faithful and capable of meeting their every need they came to a place called Kadesh Barnea. It was the last place of testing by God before they would enter into the experience of God’s promised blessing to them. It should have been the place of “YES LORD”, but it became the place of “NO LORD”. It was here that their “NO LORD” resulted not just in missed opportunity and blessing, but 38 years of frustration and struggle and marked them as the generation that died in the wilderness unfulfilled because they said “NO LORD” because they lacked faith to obey Him.
This account is given to us by God not just to know, but was written to us for an example and
our learning that we would not make the same mistakes in our walk with God (I Corinthians
10:6; 11) and (Romans 15:4). Just like the Jews being delivered out of Egypt by God for blessing and purpose in this world we to have the same testimony assigned to us to obey God for the life and service that will bring Him glory in this world that He has placed us in.
Open doors of blessing and opportunity from God do not always stay open indefinitely and they are always on His timing and according to His will not ours. There is such a thing that He
does not want to be disappointed continually by disobedient professing children of God. The
reasons they missed the open door are the same challenges we face today:
1. They were infected by voices of doubt and discouragement. When God has been
personally faithful to us He means for it to be proof more powerful than any negative voice that
gets into our ear. “God is faithful…..” (Deuteronomy 7:9; I Corinthians 1:9).
2. They expected blessing and opportunity without any opposition. A few saw giants in the
land and others just heard it, but the paralysis of their faith caused them to fear man more than
God. Big opposition is big opportunity to see God’s faithful power to keep His Word of Promise
to His people. “He will not fail nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
3. They did not see or respond to the fact that “NO” to God’s expectations repeatedly is a
form of rebellion against His authority over our lives. To God their “NO” to Him revealed they
were a “stiff necked people” who would not hallow Him as they should and as a result they lost
the experience and privilege of His blessing
Prayer: Father in Heaven, please grant me glimpses of Your will for me so that I may walk
confidently wherever You expect me to go and do whatever You expect me to do for Your glory.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
This account is given to us by God not just to know, but was written to us for an example and
our learning that we would not make the same mistakes in our walk with God (I Corinthians
10:6; 11) and (Romans 15:4). Just like the Jews being delivered out of Egypt by God for blessing and purpose in this world we to have the same testimony assigned to us to obey God for the life and service that will bring Him glory in this world that He has placed us in.
Open doors of blessing and opportunity from God do not always stay open indefinitely and they are always on His timing and according to His will not ours. There is such a thing that He
does not want to be disappointed continually by disobedient professing children of God. The
reasons they missed the open door are the same challenges we face today:
1. They were infected by voices of doubt and discouragement. When God has been
personally faithful to us He means for it to be proof more powerful than any negative voice that
gets into our ear. “God is faithful…..” (Deuteronomy 7:9; I Corinthians 1:9).
2. They expected blessing and opportunity without any opposition. A few saw giants in the
land and others just heard it, but the paralysis of their faith caused them to fear man more than
God. Big opposition is big opportunity to see God’s faithful power to keep His Word of Promise
to His people. “He will not fail nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
3. They did not see or respond to the fact that “NO” to God’s expectations repeatedly is a
form of rebellion against His authority over our lives. To God their “NO” to Him revealed they
were a “stiff necked people” who would not hallow Him as they should and as a result they lost
the experience and privilege of His blessing
Prayer: Father in Heaven, please grant me glimpses of Your will for me so that I may walk
confidently wherever You expect me to go and do whatever You expect me to do for Your glory.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
Archive
2025
January
Prayer For A New Year 2025Prayer for A Heart Like Christ’sA PRAYER FOR HELP WITH OUR FAITHA Prayer of RepentanceA Prayer to Press OnPrayer For a Fragile Next GenerationPrayer For an Open HeartA Prayer For EndurancePrayer of Praise From the RedeemedPrayer For True EnlightenmentA Prayer: God is Waiting in the New YearSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer That Celebrates God’s WorkPrayer To See Things God’s WayPrayer of Thanks for God’s Keeping PowerPrayer When Faith is Tested: Accepting God’s WillPrayer of Dedication to Our LordA Prayer of Appreciation and WorshipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer For Humble LivingPrayer for Greater Faith to Live for GodPrayer Against Our FeelingsPrayer to the ONE Who Knows All ThingsPrayer For Sight in the Midst of LossPrayer to be Better Lovers of All Kinds of PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer of Rekindled PraisePrayer According to Your WillPrayer for the Generations to ComePrayer For the Benefits of PrayerPrayer For a Fresh Awareness of the HOLY SPIRIT
February
The Celebration of Jerusalem’s Deliverance: The Festival of LightsSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WITH Pastor Wayne CockrellThe Gift of ForgivenessGreat Love Requires DisciplineFrom The 2024 Vault: We Must VoteHow Does God Love?Running Our RaceA Prayer of Thanksgiving to GodSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHeart to Heart with GodWill You Be Mine?Birthday Gifts for Pastor Wayne Cockrell.The Discipline of GodStop In the Name of LoveSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellApple of God’s EyeOne Thing NeededStriving Side by SideWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?An Unshakable LoveHis Love and Our WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellAnchored in a Storm by the WordRenewing Your MindI’m Delighted in the LordWe are FamilyFAITH, ALIVE
March
Where is Your Faith?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellGod’s Prayer for MePraise to God in His Holiness and MajestyThank You, But Lord, I Got ThisSound the AlarmBEAUTIFULLY, POWERFULLY, GRATEFULLY RENEWEDThe Imperative to Obey and WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellWeapons for SinBeware the Ides of MarchAn Expectation that Won’t DisappointWhere Does Jesus Say in Your Bible, 'I am God. Worship Me’?Given GiftAre You My Enemy?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellListening for God’s Voice and DirectionsA Good Faith SystemThe Road Not TakenBelieving God’s PromisesLOVE LOVEPraise God for WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellIn Captivity, But Still In His PlansYour Will Be DoneTHE WAY TO THE FATHERLife LessonsI Never Knew YouWhere do You Stand?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellCaregiver, Doulos, Friend
April
FIVE YEARS LATER: Believe and ObeyFIVE YEARS LATER: - More Of HimFIVE YEARS LATER: - Idle WordsAnchored in the Storm by the WordInevitable ChangeSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellLet the Redeemed Say SoAre We 'DONE' Yet?You Better Shop AroundGear Up for The JourneyReviving My Spiritual Temple
Recent
SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Quiz Time
July 6th, 2025
DAY 5 SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Roman’s Road
July 5th, 2025
DAY 4 SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Roman’s Road
July 4th, 2025
DAY 3 SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Roman’s Road
July 3rd, 2025
DAY 2 SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Roman’s Road
July 2nd, 2025
DAY 1 SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Roman’s Road
July 1st, 2025
SUMMER OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: Roman’s Road
June 30th, 2025
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
June 29th, 2025
Change is Inevitable
June 27th, 2025
Abiding in Jesus Through His Word
June 26th, 2025
7 Comments
Amen
Amen and Amen!
Obedience. A fine way to start the year.
Abide and Abound! Give God the glory!
Bless the near other, with that come of grace.
Reach ye as brightened with all of your gifting,
The dark to retreat for the work come of faith.
OBEDIENCE - dying to self. Thank YOU Holy Spirit!!!
Grateful for our Lord's tug on our hearts. His mercy will not let us go; and that's not only good news but it is strength. We are encouraged Pastor with the reminder there is a condition, a requirement on our part and it is obedience!!!
Amen! Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Wow, Lord, we can't even shake our fingers at them, because we too have had these same three challenges. Amen and thank you, Pastor!