The Importance Of Praying, Listening, and Obeying
TODAY'S TEACHING
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
- James 1:22
It still brings a smile to my face as I think about how far God has brought me.
I am far from arriving, but thank God I'm not where I used to be.
You see, for many years I was one of those Believers who wanted God to speak to me, but I wanted to cherry-pick what I obeyed.
Yes, I actually only did what He said if it was comfortable and easy, and I thought it was a good idea.
If God told me to do something I didn't like, I decided I must have misheard Him, and I carried on doing only what I "felt" like doing.
I would hear the words of God, but I didn't listen to Him, and I ended up deceiving myself.
Thank God for His grace and mercy towards me because He has brought me a long way.
The truth is, there are some things that He will say to you that will be amazing and more exciting than you can imagine.
But there will be other times when His direction is not so action-packed,
Take heart, though, because God loves you and He'll work out everything for your good if you trust and obey Him, even when it's uncomfortable.
For example, God may move on your heart and instruct you to say sorry to someone whose feelings you hurt.
Anything other than doing what He said is disobedience.
Telling God that the person deserved it or that they were rude won't cut it.
If we pray and God tells us to do something and we list all our excuses why we won't follow through, in the end, we still haven't obeyed.
As I look back at all the time I've been serving the Lord and ministering, I believe that the success I've seen has come down to developing the habit of obeying.
As I've pressed into drawing near to Him and spent time in His presence, I can say that what I have done more than anything else is simply to pray, listen, and obey.
As I said earlier, His instructions at times really stirred up my flesh.
Things He said for me to do and say were not always fascinating, but in the end, I obeyed.
If you genuinely seek to know God's plan for your life, one of the most important things I can tell you is to follow through on what He says.
He has given you the ultimate power of choice.
You have the capacity to follow His Spirit or not.
But if you choose to consistently and persistently obey Him, you will be moving right along in His will for your life.
So, pray with all your heart.
Listen with all your heart.
And obey with all your heart.
Miracles (always) happen when you follow God's lead because He (always) knows what He is doing.
If this resonates with you, here's a short prayer you can say today:
"Heavenly Father, I come before You today with a humble heart, asking for the strength and desire to pray and obey You more in my daily life. Help me to seek Your guidance and follow Your will in all that I do, no matter what. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to grow closer to You through prayer and obedience. Amen."
God bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Daniel
DailyEffectivePrayer.org
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TODAY'S DAILY PRAYERS
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TODAY'S QUESTIONS
1. What is God asking us to do?
To discern the will of God, we must first enter into a place of prayer and spiritual focus. This is the most essential step in understanding the divine instructions that are being given to us by God. Through spending time in God's Word and connecting with the Holy Spirit, we can gain clarity on the path that God is asking us to walk. It is only through this dedicated effort of seeking God's will that we can fully grasp the purpose and direction we are meant to follow. If we seek Him diligently, then we'll find Him.
2. Am we willing to submit to God's will?
It is essential to reflect on whether we are willing to lay down our own desires, plans, and preferences in order to align with the purpose that God has for us. Trusting in God's wisdom and guidance, even when it goes against our own understanding, is a crucial step in surrendering to His will and allowing Him to work in and through us for His glory and the fulfillment of His plans. It requires a deep level of faith and obedience to let go of control and truly follow where God leads, knowing that His ways are always higher and better than our own.
3. What obstacles or challenges might we encounter in obeying God's instructions?
Facing obstacles or challenges when obeying God's instructions is inevitable and a common experience for many believers. The fear of the unknown, doubt in our abilities, or the uncertainty of the outcome can often hinder us from fully surrendering to God's will. However, through prayer and seeking strength, courage, and wisdom, we can overcome these obstacles and confidently walk in obedience to God's guidance. We must not be swayed by our fears but instead, trust in the power of God to lead us through any challenges that may come our way.
4. How can we pray for God's help and guidance in obeying what He says to do?
We are to begin our prayer by humbly seeking God's help and guidance in obeying His instructions. We approach God with a heart full of faith and trust, knowing that He will provide us with the strength and empowerment needed to carry out His will. We pour out our hearts to Him, acknowledging our complete dependence on His grace and guidance in every step we take. We let our prayers be a constant conversation with the Almighty, seeking His wisdom and direction in all areas of our lives. We trust in His perfect timing and His love as we seek to follow His will obediently and faithfully.
5. What steps can we take to actively obey God's direction in our lives?
We can create a detailed roadmap for following God's commands in our daily lives, ensuring that every step we take aligns with His will. It is important to take intentional actions to obey His instructions, even in the small things, relying on His steadfastness to direct and support us throughout our faith journey. We are to trust in His wisdom and guidance as we navigate each decision and circumstance, knowing that He is faithful to lead us toward a life of obedience and fulfillment in Him.
POWERFUL PRAYERS OF THE WEEK
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Scripture Of The Week
The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear.
—Isaiah 2:17-18
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My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my users would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this alright with you.
Appreciate it! Blessings!
Obey God in everything.
Great article Daniel.