When our daughter Heather was a child, she would sometimes entertain herself and her little brother Jeremy with stories she’d create.
These weren’t ordinary stories, however. Each part of the story was to be followed by a response, such as HOORAY or OH DEAR. Jeremy would supply those. Heather told her story so the responses alternated.
For example:
One day Mrs. Brown said to her children, “Let’s go on a picnic!” (HOORAY!)
But while they were getting ready it started to rain. (OH DEAR!)
Mrs. Brown said, “Don’t worry, we’ll have a picnic in the family room!” (HOORAY!)
Billy Brown counted out apples for everyone. “Uh-oh!” he said. “We don’t have enough apples!” (OH DEAR!)
You get the idea.
Some of us have read Bible promises with the same HOORAY/OH DEAR responses. (Although we’d probably exchange HOORAY for HALLELUJAH!)
Take Deuteronomy 7:9, for example. We read, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations . . .” And our response might be HALLELUJAH!
Then we read the second part: “. . . of those who love him and keep his commandments” (emphasis added). (OH DEAR.)
Here are two more examples:
“You will eat the good things of the land . . .” (HALLELUJAH!) “. . . if you are willing and obedient”–Isaiah 1:19. (OH DEAR.)
Or this assurance from Jesus: “You are my friends . . . ,” (HALLELUJAH!) “. . . if you do what I command”–John 15:14. (OH DEAR).
I can’t speak for you but often I’m glad to claim God’s promises, then struggle to comply with the prerequisite: God’s directives—even though I know that sinful, self-centered behaviors can get me into trouble and won’t produce long-term contentment.
I so easily forget:
What blessing might Jesus have had in mind when he made that promise? Actually, the Bible lists a number of blessings tied to obedience. Here’s a starter-list of ten:
1. God’s watchful care. “The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him” (Psalm 33:18).
2. Prosperity of soul. “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (Proverbs 16:20).
3. Joy of heart. “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8).
Jesus isn’t trying to make your life miserable by calling you to obey his word. He wants you to abide in his love and have fullness of joy! God doesn’t give us his word to keep us from life. He gives us his word so we can walk in abundance of life.
Melissa Kruger, Growing Together, 50
4. Freedom from shame. “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands” (Psalm 119:5-6).
5. Freedom from fear. “Surely the righteous will never be shaken . . . They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:6a, 8a).
6. Peace of mind. “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165).
When we obey with a right heart from a place of love, we experience a joy and peace we’d never know otherwise.
Denise Hughes, Deeper Waters, 149.
7. Blessing upon our grandchildren. “The Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts” (Psalm 103:17-18).
8. Wisdom. “The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7b).
9. Joy of knowing Jesus intimately. “The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. . . I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him” (John 14:21 HCSB).
If I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.
Oswald Chambers
10. Everything we need and then some. “Those who obey him have all they need . . . Those who obey the Lord lack nothing good” (Psalm 34:9 GNT).
When we yield in obedience to God’s voice he yields a harvest greater than we can imagine.
Denise Hughes, Deeper Waters, 149
We know it’s true: disobedience can lead to disaster. (OH DEAR!)
But even the short list of blessings listed above proves:
Obedience leads to abundance.
(HALLELUJAH–and thank you, Lord!)
* * * * * * * * * *
O God, I praise you for your promises that assure me: when I follow your ways, all will be well. Give me understanding so I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart–moment by moment. May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, so I won’t be put to shame!
Jeremiah 7:23; Psalm 119:34, 80
Photo credits: Steve Ruegg; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.freerangestock.com (Chad Madden); http://www.canva.com (2).
Discover more from From the Inside Out
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
From the Inside Out 
Excellent, Nancy. Many of the parables of Christ fit this pattern, too! It’s a good story format. Life has plenty of “Hoorays” and “Oh dears” and the order doesn’t matter—so long as there’s variety.
I never thought about there being such a pattern in Jesus’ parables. I’ll have to watch for that. Thank you, David!
Nancy, there’s so much here to enjoy and meditate upon! Hallelujah! And the “Oh, Dear” moments have been plentiful ~
I enjoyed this parallel between your daughter’s stories (and his cute your son was responder!) and how we read God’s words and requests! I’m going to read through them again and save this! Many blessings! Thank you!
Praise God you found this post meaningful, K. L.! I am honored.
Amen, Nancy! You’re a blessing! Karla ❤️
Your daughter’s “Hooray” and “Oh dear” story idea is great! I’ll share it with my five-year-old granddaughter who likes to tell stories to her little brother. The analogy you made utilizing Heather’s story idea with scripture helped to define the dual messages. Very interesting! 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. I still remember H. and J. in the back seat of the car, H. telling her stories, and J. adding the responses. (I suppose big brother E. was listening in too, but much too “mature” to join in the responding!) Such a pleasure to have them happily occupied; such fun to see where H. would take the story next!
Wow, yes. Our responses matter. Our stories are flat if they go nowhere. God is waiting for our spiritual responses to the Word He has given us and to the prompting of His Spirit day in and out. I want to offer Him a hallelujah!
AMEN, Linda–I too want to offer my Savior hallelujah-worthy obedience! Thank you for your insightful observations.
Amen and amen! Obedience may go against what we want to do, but the benefits far away the any grief we may have
So right, Brenda! I pray that thought might remain close to the surface of my thinking, prompting me to always choose obedience!
Excellent way to teach a needed lesson!
Thank you, Vickie. Praise God for his inspiration!
This is so good, Nancy! I love the Hallelujah and Oh Dear responses. Both are so important in my walk with the Lord.
Thank you, Patty. I suppose we could consider occasions of repentance as the “Oh Dear” responses. We need those too!
It appears that Heather inherited her mother’s creativity! Thank you for sharing this personal story (and the adorable picture)!
Beautiful blog! It illustrates that the ‘OH, DEARS’ bring us closer to our Lord in so many ways. I especially can relate to the Oswald Chambers’ quote:
“If I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.”
E., H., and J. WERE adorable–most of the time! (I’m just a teeny bit prejudiced.) / Isn’t that a wonderful quote from Chambers? I too found my heart responding with OH YES! as I read it. I also thought, the more I obey, the more pinholes will form, and I’ll see the face of God (all his attributes) manifested more and more clearly. Yet another reason to choose obedience!
Love this post, Nancy. We often do read Scripture in a Hallelujah, Oh dear mode. But as you say, it should all be Hallelujah. Because God, in his grace, mercy, and goodness, gives us a way to live in the Hallelujah zone! And I love that Chambers quote. I call it “in thin places with God.” And those are always Hallelujah spots!
I LOVE your expression, “to live in the Hallelujah zone!” It IS a supremely blessed place to be! Somebody needs to write a song with those words in the lyrics!
Maybe one day someone will!
I love this Oswald Chambers quote. It reminded me how during my eye exams, that sometimes the optometrist drops a sheet filled with pin holes. over the viewing screen. How strange it is to me, that by covering all but the pin holes, I can see the letters more clearly. Maybe God gives us those pin hole moments, here and there in the tiny details of our life, so that we will focus more completely on Jesus, until the day we see Him face to face.
I too love the Chambers quote! Some people call the “pin holes” “thin places,” where we experience God in some profound way. I agree–such moments do draw us closer to Him, bringing Him into sharper focus. You’ve brought to mind an old hymn, “Face to Face.” Perhaps you know it too? “Face to face with Christ my Savior / Face to face–what will it be– / When with rapture I behold Him, / Jesus Christ who died for me!” The euphoria of pinholes now can’t compare to that moment!!
I love this, Nancy. Your example will go with me for a long time. I am prone to “oh dear!” but what an encouragement to know that it can be, “Yes and Amen and Hooray and Hallelujah” … all the way home. Thanks for your faithfulness in using your gift of writing to glorify God. It’s a blessing to many, dear friend.
Thank you, Heidi, for your sweet encouragement. Indeed, may those words, “Yes and Amen and Hooray and Hallelujah” be our battle cry all the home, just as you’ve said!
Wonderful post! When we are obedient unto God’s word, we find joy and the fullness of grace.
Exactly, Linda. How foolish I can be to think ungodly choices are going to lead to satisfaction in the long run!
Your daughter has your smile, and your positive outlook on life. “Hooray!”
Thank you, Dave!
Nancy, what a delightful approach to the Word via the worldview of your children—playful, attentive, and timeless. The Tigger and Eeyore in me are nodding, yes and amen. “O that my ways were steadfast.”
Steadfast ways, indeed, Laurie–my prayer as well!
Nancy, this is a wonderful post filled with God’s word! Obedience requires diligence. May I trust and obey God’s Word!
Me, too, Pam!!
You’re referencing some powerful quotes here! And I find that in my own personal story I sometimes get the Hoorays and the Oh Dears mixed up!
TT
[image: –Join me at Living Our Days]
Join me at Living Our Days https://michelemorin.net “The way we live our days is, of course, the way we live our lives.” (Annie Dillard)https://linktr.ee/MicheleDMorin
Might there be a blog post in that mix-up?! Meanwhile, I’m glad you found the quotes meaningful, Michele.
Your daughter sounds like she was a great creative writer. 🤗We have many hoorays and oh dears, I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness through it all. ❤️
Oh yes, Dawn–praise God for his faithfulness through it all, as we learn in fits and starts how to be faithful to HIM!
I know I continue to learn to live from a place of peace and faith, not fear or anxiety. Probably take a lifetime to “really get it” but God is good and will show me the way.
Our God is that–good and faithful to show us the way. How gracious he is!! I’m with you on the learning curve, Jean!
I love how you brought this all together for an important message of truth. ❤️
“In this world you will have trouble (oh dear) but take heart! I have overcome the world!” (Hooray) John 16:33
With Jesus involved, there’s always a “hooray” in all things, good or bad!!!!
That IS glorious truth to hold close to our hearts: there is always a “hooray, in all tings, good or bad! Thank you for adding that certainty to the conversation, Alicia.
❤️
Love these – I have to revisit this post to note these scriptures. Much truth here – I too have had to work on the ‘conditions’ that come with many of these promises.
We’ll work together, R. H., with God’s enablement in us, “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:10). Hallelujah!
My oldest child is also Heather! I love her “hoorays” and “Oh dears”, given with heart and soul. God’s promises throughout Scripture are meant to build us, shape us, encourage us, and remind us of who He is and who we are in Him. Humble obedience is the challenge though. Following through in faith and faithfulness requires the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish. Thanks for this wonderful reminder.
Well how about that–we both named our daughters Heather! Yet another thing we have in common, Dayle. / You are so right: we NEED the power of the Holy Spirit, working within us, enabling us to choose obedience over self-indulgence. He IS our reliable Helper (John 14:26).
So true! We are quick to say we love God, but I always remember Jesus words, “IF you love, keep my commandments.” Thanks for reminding us of the important and keeping His commandments.
You’re welcome, Barb. We have so many good reasons to remember the importance of God’s commands and to keep them!
I’m so thankful for the decrees of the Lord. Following them isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Thank you for sharing this, Nancy.
Always worth the effort indeed, Bridget! (Lord, keep us mindful!)
Thank you, Nancy, for this wonderful reminder! ❤️
You’re welcome, Candace!