Prayer Week 25: Call to Obedience

We often view prayer as one way, like giving feedback on a website. We generally don’t expect a response, especially a personal one. If anything we get a “thank you, your opinion is important to us” or “we’re taking it under advisement.” Sadly, we view prayer as being about us. We do all the talking and if we do happen to listen, it’s for an answer to what we said. But how often do we listen for instructions, to hear a command for us to obey?

 

Ecclesiastes 8:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

James 1:22 New American Standard Bible 1995

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

James 1:22 New American Standard Bible 1995

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

John 14:23 New American Standard Bible 1995

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Luke 11:28 New American Standard Bible 1995

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Exodus 19:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;

Romans 10:17 New American Standard Bible 1995

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

We tend to view obeying God’s commands in an abstract sense. We think of it only in the realm of doing what the Bible says, some more leniently than others. The idea that God would personally tell us something He wants us to do is foreign. How can we know what God wants us to do if He doesn’t speak to us out loud? While there are times when He does actually speak to us audibly (I have experienced this,) more often it is through the nudging of the Spirit. It is not so much a structured sentence, but more of an idea or a picture accompanied by an urge to act. This could be as simple as taking someone a meal, or offering an invitation. God’s call is often not grandiose, but common and every day. The reason we don’t notice it every day is because we aren’t listening. In 1 Kings, God has a message for the prophet Elijah, yet He does not speak through the fire, storm or earthquake, but through the gentle whisper of the wind. It is hard to hear if we are surrounded by noise, chaos and busyness.

 

There are two ways to make ourselves better adapt at hearing the voice of God. The first is to make being alone and quiet a regular practice. The other is to consciously make oneself more aware of God’s voice and presence. God is everywhere, but we are usually not aware of it. Part of this is being in constant communion with God, keeping the door of communication open by being mindful of Him. The other part is to be in God’s word. The more we know Him the better we will recognize His will and voice. The primary requisite to knowing God’s will and obeying His command is being open, a humble willingness to submit to Him. It does not matter how much God talks to us if we don’t listen, or how much we listen if we are not willing to obey.

 

This week as you pray, ask God to make you aware of Him. Invite Him to speak to you. Be willing to obey. Tell Him (truthfully) that you are willing to do whatever He commands. Express faith that you will know how and what to do when the time comes. Be ready and attentive every moment of every day.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Preparing For the Inevitable Unknown

We only have so much control, even in a country where the citizens are allowed to “choose” office holders, it is still run by the majority. We may not get what we want. What are we to do? How are we to act? What is our responsibility? What if things don’t go the way we think they should?

 

Is the Law for Us?

Many modern Christians reject the Old Testament as necessary scripture, saying we are no longer under the Law so we don’t need to obey it. They even go so far as to say that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament. What is true? If we are not saved by the Law, does it really apply to us? Do we need the Old Testament?

What About Sin?

Many Christians in America prefer to avoid any talk about sin. Many pastors avoid teaching about sin in an effort to avoid losing members. As a result, many people don’t know what sin is, what it means, or what to do about it.

A Slave to Whom?

Imagine, if you will, that you are single but you have found The One that you love more than anything on this earth. But that One has been sold into slavery as a prostitute. So you take everything that you have and sell it all so that you can buy that One out of slavery. And after giving up everything that you have, the two of you are married and begin your life together. But after the honeymoon starts to fade, and things slow down, you notice that your Love has become distant, and not around as often as before. When questioned, the only response is “Oh, I was busy with something” and nothing more. And your Love begins to have less and less time for you. Finally, one day you follow your Love…to the place where they were purchased from. Your Love has been voluntarily going back to the place of slavery and prostitution. Heartbroken, you plead with your Love to stop and come back to you. They agree and return with you, promising never to return again. But they do. And this process repeats it’s self over and over.