‘Does the lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice …… For rebellion is as like the sin of divination (witchcraft) 1 Samuel 15:22
This is Samuel the prophet speaking too King Saul who had just disobeyed the word of the Lord, the Lord instructions to him. He offered a sacrifice to the Lord. God did not except his sacrifice and rejected him as King. God saw his act of disobedience as the sin of witchcraft or rebellion. One of the foundational keys to grow in favor and blessings from God is with our obedience. Praying more, fasting more, reading our Bible more is all good but it’s no substitute for our obedience. Saul disobeyed because of the fear of man. We need to regularly check with God to make sure we are walking in total obedience to Him no matter how small or how big and simply repent and do what he has asked you to do. From speaking to your neighbor, giving of finances. Even getting to church. Whatever it is just do it. Don’t substitute your disobedience by trying to be or act more spiritual. Gods not impressed or fooled and will not except it. He just wants our surrender in obedience. That’s how we grow the fastest in our relationship with God. What’s fascinating is Jesus learnt obedience through suffering, by going to the cross.
The road of obedience is not easy because we have to die to ourselves. It’s not a well-traveled road.