Tea and Deuteronomy: Sowing Obedience and Reaping Blessings in This Winter Season

Winter Tea, Winter Reflection, and the Call to Obey

Winter slows the world down in a way no other season does. The colder days, the early evenings, and the stillness of the air invite you to sit with your winter tea, breathe deeply, and reconnect with what matters most. This is the season when quiet moments reveal truth, when reflection becomes unavoidable, and when the voice of God in the Old Testament grows sharper, clearer, and more urgent.

Recommended Tea: Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea — a bold winter earl grey tea to sip slowly while you study, reflect, and let the scriptures on obedience settle deep into your spirit this season.

As you sip your earl grey tea bags and feel their warmth settle through your body, allow Deuteronomy to settle through your soul. Because in this sacred book, knowledge is wisdom, and wisdom becomes life when you choose to obey.

Deuteronomy is not gentle in its instruction. It is not casual. It is Moses speaking with authority warning Israel before entering the promised land. Moses reminds us that obedience is not optional—it's the dividing line between blessing and struggle, favor and frustration, protection and vulnerability. Over and over, God thru Moses lays out His terms: do what I command, walk in My ways, and I will bless you. Winter is the perfect time to revisit these truths. The cold slows you down long enough to listen. The stillness allows conviction to rise. The quiet gives space for the Word to pierce your heart.

As you read this article, meditate on good inspirational quotes from the Old Testament that stir biblical praise, summon reverence, and call you to action. This winter, let your cup of winter earl grey tea become a companion to your commitment. Let each sip remind you that the warmth of blessing comes after the decision to obey. Settle in. Open your Bible. Prepare your journal. It’s time to understand what it means to sow obedience and reap blessing.

Before you deep dive into this lesson, answer these journaling prompts. Be mindful, consider deeply, and write honestly: 

Journaling Prompts:

-Where has God been calling me to obey more fully this season?

-What distractions have kept me from hearing Him clearly?

-How am I preparing my heart this winter to walk in God’s ways with intention?

The Weight of God's Word - why Obedience is Non-Negotiable

Deuteronomy opens with a voice that is firm—almost roaring. It is the voice of Moses warning Israel on behalf of God before walking into the promised land. “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice” -Deuteronomy 13:4. The instruction is clear: obey God completely. Not partially. Not selectively. Completely. This alone shows why obedience in the Bible is the foundation of spiritual stability. God's word is not vague, unclear, or inconsistent. His Word is exact, precise, and binding.

This winter feel the strength of this verse. Think about the areas where you have been obedient—and the areas where you have not. God does not ask for obedience because He seeks control; He asks for obedience because His laws produce life, order, peace, and blessing. “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee… to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” -Deuteronomy 10:12–13. For your good. Not for your loss.

Deuteronomy offers some of the strongest scriptures on obedience ever spoken. “Take heed, and hearken… that it may go well with thee” -Deuteronomy 4:40. The phrase that it may go well with thee appears repeatedly, and it is not poetic—it is literal. Moses ties godly obedience to wellness, prosperity, protection, and generational blessing. When winter tries to bring heaviness, gloom, or stagnation, remember this truth: your obedience can change your atmosphere.

Journaling Prompts:

-Which commandments or teachings have I avoided because they challenge my comfort?

-How have I seen God bless me in seasons when I chose obedience?

-What does “that it may go well with thee” mean in my current life?

The Blessing of Obedience - When You Sow, You will Reap 

Deuteronomy does not simply call us to obedience; it describes the blessings that flow from it in detail. On cold winter mornings, when you wrap your hands around your winter earl grey tea, open to Deuteronomy 28 and read it slowly. Let its fire warm the coldest parts of your faith. “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently… all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee” -Deuteronomy 28:1–2. Blessings don’t gently arrive—they overtake you.

The chapter continues with a cascade of favor: “Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field… blessed shall be thy basket and thy store… the LORD shall command the blessing upon thee” -Deuteronomy 28:3–8. This is not symbolic. These are literal life manifestations—provision, stability, abundance, success. When you obey God, you position yourself beneath an open heaven. You place your life in alignment with divine intention.

This is why winter is the perfect time for renewal. Just as the ground rests before spring, your spirit can rest before your next assignment. As you sip your cup of earl grey tea bags, think deeply about what you are sowing this season. Are you sowing obedience? Are you sowing discipline? Are you sowing righteousness? Because what you sow now, you will reap. “If thou shalt keep the commandments… he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee” -Deuteronomy 7:12–13. Winter is not a pause. Winter is preparation.

Journaling Prompts:

-What blessings am I believing in God for in the coming season?

-What seeds of obedience must I sow now to prepare for that harvest?

-Where is God telling me, “If thou shalt hearken diligently, I will bless you”?

The Consequence of Disobedience - A Warning Worth Heeding

God is loving, but God is also just, and Deuteronomy makes this unmistakably clear. “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken… all these curses shall come upon thee” -Deuteronomy 28:15. This is not fear-based teaching; it is truth-based teaching. Winter is an honest season—it reveals bare branches, exposed roots, and the skeleton of what lies beneath. In the same way, disobedience reveals the structure of your spiritual life.

When you ignore God’s commands, you invite instability where there should be strength. “Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you” -Deuteronomy 9:24. God sees rebellion plainly. He names it. And He warns that disobedience leads to confusion, lack, frustration, scattering, and spiritual dryness. These consequences are not punishments from a harsh God—they are natural outcomes of walking outside God's protection.

As you hold your cup of tea, ask yourself whether any areas of your life show signs of disobedience: strained relationships, stolen peace, repeated cycles, or stagnation. These are often symptoms pointing back to a deeper spiritual misalignment. But the good news is this: God allows disobedience to convict you. Winter exposes so spring can restore.

Journaling Prompts:

-What areas of my life feel scattered or confused?

-Am I experiencing consequences that God warned me about?

-Where must I return to God’s instructions immediately?

The Command to Remember - Obedience Requires Memory 

Deuteronomy places extraordinary emphasis on remembering. “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget…” -Deuteronomy 4:9. Forgetting is the enemy of obedience. When you forget what God has done, you forget why obeying Him matters. Memory protects devotion. This is why winter reflection is so crucial. As you sip your winter earl grey tea, let memory rise.

Moses repeatedly warns, “Thou shalt remember” -Deuteronomy 7:18; 8:2; 8:18. Remember God's deliverance, God's provision, God's discipline, God's faithfulness. When your heart remembers, your feet follow His path. Memory fuels obedience because it restores perspective. It keeps you grounded. It keeps you grateful. It keeps you humble.

This is why journaling is essential. Writing down what God has done builds a personal record of biblical praise. It becomes your archive of testimony. It becomes your reminder that obedience is anchored in gratitude, trust, and reverence.

Journaling Prompts:

-What has God delivered me from this year?

-What spiritual lessons do I need to remember so I do not repeat past mistakes?

-How does remembering God’s faithfulness strengthen my obedience today?

The Call To Love God Through Obedience 

Contrary to modern belief, obedience is about rules and relationship. In Deuteronomy, Moses warns that obedience is directly tied to keeping God's commandments. “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Love is expressed through obedience. "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" -Exodus 20:6.  Not words. Not intentions. Not emotional moments. Action.

To love God is to obey God. “And thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him” -Deuteronomy 8:6. This is love in motion. This is devotion in practice. This is reverence displayed. As you sip your winter tea, let this reality settle deeply into your spirit: obedience in action is worship.

This means decisions matter. Daily choices matter. The way you speak, forgive, serve, give, and listen—these are acts of love or acts of resistance. When love is sincere, obedience becomes natural. Knowledge is wisdom, and wisdom teaches you that honoring God with your life is the highest form of devotion.

Journaling Prompts:

-Do my daily choices reflect a heart that loves God fully?

-How can I show love to God through obedience this winter?

-What area of my spiritual life needs to express love through action of God's commandments instead of intention?

The Generational Impact of Obedience  

Deuteronomy makes one truth undeniable: your obedience affects more than you. “That thou mayest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes… thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son” -Deuteronomy 6:2. Obedience is generational. Your choices shape your lineage. They influence your children and grandchildren, whether or not you ever speak a word of instruction.

This winter consider the spiritual inheritance you are building. Obedience sets a foundation for blessing that continues long after your lifetime. “Know therefore that the LORD thy God… keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” -Deuteronomy 7:9. A thousand generations. Your obedience can echo centuries into the future.

Winter is the season where families spend more time together due to the cold, generations intertwine, and memories are created. What spiritual legacy do you want your family to remember you for? Let this season be a turning point where you choose obedience not only for your sake, but for those who will come after you.

Journaling Prompts:

-What spiritual inheritance am I building for future generations?

-Where do I need to break generational patterns through obedience?

-How can my obedience today bless my family tomorrow?

The Daily Practice Of Obedience — A Winter Renewal 

Winter is a season of discipline. The days are shorter, the nights longer, and motivation can fade if you are not rooted in purpose. This is where Deuteronomy becomes practical. “Thou shalt diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God” -Deuteronomy 6:17. Diligence means consistency. Faithfulness. Daily action.

Think about how you can weave obedience into your routine: your morning habits, your prayer time, your reactions, your decisions, your study time, your relationships. Obedience is not a one-time event; it is a lifestyle. A rhythm. A steady posture of surrender and reverence.

Deuteronomy instructs: “Teach them diligently… talk of them… bind them… write them” -Deuteronomy 6:7–9. Surround yourself with God’s Word. Fill your environment with it. Let it shape your atmosphere. Let it discipline your heart. Let it purify your motives. This winter, build spiritual momentum through intentional obedience. Set a tone for the coming season that says, I will walk after God wholeheartedly.

Journaling Prompts:

-What daily disciplines will help me walk in obedience?

-How can I make God’s Word more present in my routines?

-What habits do I need to break or build to honor God more fully?

Sip, Obey, and Reap the Blessings of God’s Word

In conclusion, as winter settles in, let your reflection deepen. Let your obedience strengthen. Let your spirit anchor itself in the unshakable truth of Deuteronomy. As you enjoy your final cup of Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea, remember that obedience is not merely a command—it is a pathway to blessing. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil… therefore choose life” -Deuteronomy 30:15–19. Choose obedience. Choose blessing. Choose the future God intends for you.

This winter, allow Deuteronomy to challenge, convict, and renew you. Let the warmth of your winter tea be a reminder that God’s presence, protection, and provision are near to those who walk in His ways. Reflect deeply. Journal honestly. Obey boldly. You are sowing obedience today—and you will reap blessing tomorrow.