Scriptures Encouraging Us to Obey God

Anybody else find it hard to obey God’s directions at times? Previously, I’ve written a couple of posts on how to obey God via steps of incremental obedience and on how we need to learn to obey God without a “leash”. Subsequent posts will further discuss obedience to God and how it’s like a sturdy foundation on which to build a house, how obedience proves that we love and trust God, and how obedience provides rewards. Today I’ve put together a resource page with a list of helpful scriptures encouraging us to obey God. 

Scriptures Encouraging Us to Obey God

“He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 (NLT)

“Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.” Exodus 19:5 (NLT)

“Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.” Exodus 23:21-22 (NLT)

“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (NLT)

Blessings of Obedience: Deuteronomy 11:1-32

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God…” Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (NLT)

Blessings for Obedience: Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Curses for Disobedience: Deuteronomy 28:15-68

“No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” Deuteronomy 30:14 (NIV)

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

“The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the LORD, and the LORD vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us–a land flowing with milk and honey.” Joshua 5:6 (NLT)

“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT)

“I pray that my ways may become firmly established so that I can obey your laws.” Psalm 119:5 (GW)

“Teach me, O LORD, how to live by your laws, and I will obey them to the end.” Psalm 119:33 (GW)

“I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” Psalm 119:44-45 (NLT)

“I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” Psalm 119:112 (CEV)

“All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 (AMP)

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Isaiah 1:19-20 (NIV)

“This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’” Jeremiah 7:23 (NLT)

“But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the LORD your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you.” Jeremiah 26:13 (NLT)

“Jeremiah replied, “You won’t be handed over to them if you choose to obey the LORD. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you.” Jeremiah 38:20 (NLT)

“Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.” Matthew 7:21 (CEV)

“So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.

But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!” Matthew 7:24-29 (GNT)

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)

“He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”” Luke 11:28 (NIV)

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21

“Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.” John 14:23-24

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” John 15:9-10 (NLT)

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14 (NLT)

“For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.” Romans 2:13 (NLT)

“Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 (NLT)

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” Romans 6:16 (NLT)

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NLT)

“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.” Hebrew 5:8-9 (NLT)

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 (NLT)

“But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:25 (NLT)

“You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.” James 2:24 (CEV)

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him” 1 John 2:3-5 (NIV)

“We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:2-3 (NLT)

“Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” 2 John 1:6 (NLT)

“This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.” Revelation 14:12 (NLT)

Take Some Practical Steps to Obey God:

• First, find a few scriptures that stick out to you about obedience—especially if you’re struggling with obedience in any area right now.  Pick from the list above, or look for verses that more specifically fit your situation.
• Then, write them on index cards or post it notes and post them where you can see them to help you when you might need a reminder or encouragement.  For example put them on the bathroom mirror, the nightstand, on doors, over light switches, on cabinet doors, on your car console, etc.
• Finally, speak the scriptures out loud and remind God (and yourself) of His promises.  Speaking God’s Word will build your faith, encourage you, and give you a greater ability to follow in obedience.

Which scriptures about obedience to God are most helpful for you? Share them with us by leaving a comment below!

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, or off-topic.  By posting on this site you agree to my Comment Policy.

P.S.  If you liked this post, you might enjoy receiving new posts delivered right to your inbox each week!  Sign up here. 

If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)