Joy from Obedience

Obedience. I hate that word. Because it requires me to do something that someone tells me to do. Ever since I was a child, I hated being told what to do. My mother could tell you some shocking stories (only they might not shock you if you know me well) about how I hated being told what to do. I hated being told what to wear. I hated being told to be quiet...the list goes on. I remember my mom telling me not to touch something because it was hot. What did I do? I put a finger on it just to show her that I would do what I wanted. As I have aged, this flaw of mine has only gotten worse. When Corey, my husband, tells me what I should do or what I shouldn't do, my answer is usually "Ok, dad" and then I usually do what I want anyway. Not my shining moments I assure you.
Today I came across an article that was about worship. It said that obedience is a requirement to worship.
John 14:15 says "If you love me, you will obey what I command." NIV and then in verse 21 "whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by the Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

He's saying that obedience is how we show Him that we love Him. I don't think I do a very good job of showing Christ that I love Him. Instead, I fight what He asks me to do because I think I know what is best for me. Or I say I will do what He asks but then I really end up doing what I want instead. And it always ends up in a mess. Just like the time when I burned my finger trying to show my mom that she wasn't the boss of me. Isn't that ridiculous that at almost 30 years old I am still doing that? I would hope that I would have learned something by now. God has told me that he has plans for me. Big plans. Plans to give me a great future. Yet I still think I can do things my own way and that it will turn out perfectly.

I really want this year to be a year where I learn the joy that comes from obedience.
I want to learn from my mistakes. I want to follow God's plan for my life and not my own. I want to choose His ways. This is painful for me, but growing hurts sometimes and I know it's going to be worth it.