How do confessing His hand and obeying the commandments work together?

One more reading of D&C 59:21 "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."

These two qualities of confessing God's hand and keeping His commandments go hand in hand in at least a couple of aspects. First, we recognize the Father's hand in our lives as revelation through the Holy Ghost. The Spirit bears witness to our hearts that God loves us. It is the influence of the Holy Spirit that makes us aware of the Lord's presence.

The Spirit operates on principles of righteousness. When we are striving to keep the commandments, we draw closer to the Spirit and can more easily feel his promptings and hear his whisperings. When we are sinning, the primary messages we receive from the Holy Ghost are feelings of guilt and promptings to repent. These strong impressions to turn ourselves around and get on the righteous path usually drown out and overwhelm the gentler promptings of gratitude and testimony. Thus, we are far more likely to receive the comforting assurances of the Holy Ghost when we are keeping the commandments.

Second, God operates on the law of obedience. Obedience is the first law of heaven. We receive many blessings from the Lord, regardless of our obedience and faithfulness. The sun shines, the earth turns, the seasons come and go, trees blossom and grow, gravity operates, we eat and drink, and life goes on for most of us even when we are oblivious to God. But there are special blessings that await those who keep God's commandments. He has knowledge and power reserved for only those who obey Him, and such blessings "are predicated - and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated (See D&C 130:20-21).

Thus, when we keep the commandments, our Father has greater blessings to bestow upon us, and there will simply be more of His hand to see and confess in our lives.