For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.

Romans 7:19

Sammy was the perfect dog. She walked beside me on a leash and alerted me when she needed to go outside. Sammy even sat when commanded. However, there was one command she did not obey: the command to stay. No matter what I tried, when I said “sit, stay,” she could not bring herself to stay in one place. Sitting on her haunches, her little legs trembled every second after the command. Every atom in her body wanted to disobey. 

In a recent exercise class, I had a similar experience. The instructor asked us to hold a strength training posture for several minutes. Not seconds, minutes. (When exercising, minutes are an eternity!) I found myself, like Sammy, trying to obey the teacher, but my legs and arms were trembling to move in a different direction. As much as I wanted to push through the familiar exercises to the next pose, I didn’t. The act of remaining in one position and focusing my mind on every muscle was a practice in patience. It helped me to visualize what each muscle was doing and how I could get the most work out of every motion. 

Practicing Obedience

Paul understood the push and pull of obedience. The desire is always there to follow God’s way. I want to obey, yet I find that I give in to disobedience more often. I may commit to do the right thing, but I chicken out at the last second. Like Sammy, I try again and fail. I’ve learned that the art of obedience takes practice not perfection.

Obedience to God means having the power to go my own way, yet refusing to do so. It means learning to resist the trembling, burn of temptation and instead follow God’s path. And often it requires me to slow down and get back to basics. The simple act of pausing to wait on God’s timing can be life-changing. My body may quiver with anticipation for the next movement, but there is a tremendous opportunity to learn in the midst of the challenge. I have to remember that learning to trust God takes practice.

Foundational Movements

Exercise has taught me the importance of building on a foundation. Each movement I master helps me reach the next goal. Here’s what that looks like off the mat:

Mountain Pose

It’s not flashy or complex. But the simplicity of it reminds me that everything else is built on this one pose. It’s the same in the Word. Scripture is my life (see Deuteronomy 32:47). Without immersing myself daily in God’s powerful Word, obedience is impossible.

Hold The Pose

The practice of slowing down and feeling the burn of each muscle is an act of discipline. Journaling helps me do just that. The slow process of reading Scripture and writing the verses helps me meditate more deeply on the meaning.

Return To The Mat

The reset. Gratitude is key to changing my mindset. It doesn’t require anything new. It’s a simple reflection on the work God has already done. When I list all the blessings in my life, my mind begins to lose sight of the losses. Instead, I begin to see all that God has done and give him thanks.

Like me, your legs may be trembling from the desire to push ahead of God. You may be tired of waiting on him to move. Don’t give up. Keep on feeling the burn and trust that there is purpose in his plan. That’s what practice looks like.

What foundational movement do you need to return to today? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. (It may not show us right away, but I read every one!)

(An edited version of this post can be found at ChristianDevotions.us published on April 27, 2026.)