I’ve been singing that song: “I’ll say yes, Lord, yes—to Your will and to Your way. I’ll say yes, Lord, yes—I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.”

But have you ever really listened to what you’re singing? Have you thought about what those words mean? I’m not exempting myself from this question.

Let’s go together to Exodus 20—the chapter that contains the Ten Commandments.
I won’t read all of them, but let’s highlight what they are:

• You shall have no other gods before Me.
• You shall not make for yourself any graven image.
• You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Honor your father and your mother.
• You shall not kill.
• You shall not commit adultery.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• You shall not covet.

These were the laws given to Israel, but now we live under the law of Christ, who has fulfilled the law. Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

James reminds us that if we offend in one point, we are guilty of all (James 2:10). And in Matthew 5:19, Jesus said that whoever breaks even one of the least commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

So what does all this have to do with obedience? It begins with love—loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). These two commands sum up all the law and the prophets.

That means nothing should come before God—not our jobs, not our homes, not our families, not our money—nothing that steals our attention from Him. When we say, “With my whole heart I’ll agree,” that must include obedience to His will.

Sometimes we say, “Lord, I love You,” but when He tells us to do something—pray, give, forgive—we hesitate. “Lord, I’d love to, but I’m tired.” Or, “Let me finish what I’m doing first.”

We push it off, and before we know it, the day is gone. Then we whisper, “Lord, I love You,” but He isn’t our priority. Obedience requires action—not just affection.

Romans 6:17 says, “Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Love must move us to act, not just sing.

Obedience is part of our duty as believers. Just as Jesus obeyed the Father—even unto death—we are to submit our will to God’s authority. Philippians 2:8 says, “He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Think about how frustrating it is when you give a child clear instructions and they ignore you. Now imagine how our heavenly Father feels when we do the same. True obedience is not selective; it’s consistent, humble, and born of reverence.

Look at those who obeyed despite struggle—Abraham, David, Jeremiah, Paul. Even those who hesitated, like Moses or Jonah, eventually surrendered. They weren’t perfect, but they were willing. That’s what God desires from us: willingness.

Micah 6:8 reminds us, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Obedience keeps our hearts soft, our walk pure, and our fellowship with God unbroken.

Unforgiveness, bitterness, and guilt block the flow of God’s grace. Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We can’t receive freedom while holding others captive in our hearts.

Scripture shows us that disobedience carries consequences: Moses lost access to the promised land for striking the rock instead of speaking to it. David suffered loss for taking an unauthorized census. Eli’s sons perished for their corruption.

But mercy remains available to the repentant. When the Spirit convicts us, our response must be: “Yes, Lord.”

There are two forms of obedience: active and passive. Active obedience is seeking out God’s commands and setting our hearts to do them. Passive obedience is submitting to God’s will even in suffering or delay.

Jesus displayed both. Actively, He served, healed, and taught in complete alignment with the Father. Passively, He endured the cross, surrendered His will, and trusted God through pain. We’re called to follow His example—yielding when He says “wait” and moving when He says “go.”

Can we truly say, “Yes, Lord, yes,” when it costs us comfort or pride? When God calls us out of convenience and into trust? When we’re overlooked, tested, or wronged?

Our answer must remain, “Yes, Lord.” A life of obedience is a life of peace, freedom, and confidence in Him. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Our obedience demonstrates that we belong to Him, that we love Him not only in word but in deed. As Jesus said in John 14:23, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.”

Obedience isn’t perfection—it’s surrender. It’s saying, “Yes, Lord,” when it’s difficult, inconvenient, or unclear. When His Spirit speaks to us, our whole heart must respond.

As the song says: “When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.”

Father, help us to be obedient children—quick to hear, slow to resist, eager to obey. Create in us hearts that say yes every time You speak. Amen.