Faith + Prayer = Obedience
- Deb Durnin
- Sep 7
- 1 min read
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
We pray because we have faith. From our prayers we are often given opportunities to be
obedient. From obedience we are many times given blessings. How do you know if God is
speaking to you and asking you to be obedient? Do you know what the Fathers voice sounds
like? Many will say no, so how do we learn to hear His voice? Prayer is a means to continually
nurture our relationship with God and begin to recognize the sound of His voice. God’s
responses will often challenge us. In both acknowledging and accepting this challenge, we can
grow our faith and deepen our relationship with God. He teaches us. We are given opportunities
to join Him in what He is doing. Take time in prayer. It can comfort you. In Matthew we are
reminded that WHATEVER we ask for in prayer we shall receive.
Matthew 21:22- If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
It might not be the answer we are expecting, or a situation we would desire, but over time you
come to understand that God’s ways are not our ways. Noah was asked to build the ark. Jonah
ended up in the belly of a fish because he chose not to do what God was asking. Rahab saved her
family because she was obedient to what God asked. Moses did not obey God exactly and struck
the rock twice, thus he was not able to enter the promised land. Sometimes the thing God is
asking us to do makes no sense. Joshua at the battle of Jericho, God commanded him to march
around the city once a day for 6 days and then 7 times on the 7th day and cry out on the final
pass. Our faith grows as we trust God and obey His directions. The definition of obedience is; to
give ear, to listen to, be submissive. Obedience is necessary even when we don’t understand.
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our
understanding. Job 37:5
To me, faith is a curious thing. My faith in Jesus is quiet. My faith is strong. My faith is bold. I
have had faith in God as long as I can remember. Over time, I have developed a strong prayer
life. Prayer, whether spoken aloud or in the quiet ache of my heart, I know my Father hears me.
My faith tells me that God, the one who set the foundations of the earth and spoke life into the
dust, hears me, knows me and loves ME! As we grow in our faith, we can come to actually
appreciate being challenged with even the difficult things.
My faith has allowed me a relationship with the Father that has carried me through childhood
traumas. Faith has held me through two divorces. It encouraged me to try again when I thought I
would be alone forever and to trust that God had a better relationship for me. My faith held as
my only child was diagnosed as a diabetic when she was 4. I prayed through days in the ER and
many nights in a hospital bed which can come frequently with Type 1 diabetes.
John 16: 23-24 -"In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my
Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 -Until now you have not asked for
anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
I KNOW that when there is nothing else I can do to effect a situation, I can call out to God
in prayer. I also reach out to those I trust to join with me in prayer. When I chose to seek after
God and what He wants for me and my family, I have heard His voice many times. While going
through my second divorce, on my drive to work and back I would have conversations in the car
asking Jesus to be the “husband” I could not choose for myself. How were we to get through this
mess of my life without hurting my daughter? How, as a single mom are we going to keep bills
paid? How could my broken heart love again. In the months that followed all our needs were
met. There was gas in the car, food on the table and a community who looked out for us. When
we are in relationship with God we can hear his promptings, feel His presence, and trust His
callings.
'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.‘ - John 10:27
On a trip to the Philippines in 2015, while I was standing under the coconut trees,
looking out at the sea, I was taking in the moment of God’s greatness. I felt someone
walk up behind me, lean into my ear and say “Welcome Home”. Startled I turned to
find no one. Standing alone, not a person in sight. As I turned back to the sea, again
He tells me “Welcome Home”. My husband and I soon began to realize God was
calling us into the mission field in the Philippines. We began to sell a dental practice
and condense our life into a 20-foot shipping container to see what God had in store
for us there.
When you know what God’s voice sounds like, when you know Holy Spirit is prompting
you, you listen and obey. He generally doesn’t start out with a big step like move to the
Philippines. Even for me it was smaller; like order the big box meal at the drive thru and
you see the homeless man sitting by the dumpster as you round the building. Or trust
Me with your last $20 for tithe and see what I can do. God simply turned my shaken
trust about tithe into $200+ in tips in the next 3 days at work. God often has us take
baby steps. God is a gentleman and will not force Himself into a situation but patiently
waits to be invited in.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the
one who knocks, the door will be opened". Matthew 7:7
God wants a relationship with you. He wants to be part of your life. As we grow in
relationship with the Father, He gives us opportunities to serve His plan. Much like the
stream that starts small and grows into a vast river, so can be our walk with Jesus.
With our own children, we encourage them, we set boundaries, we give rewards, and
we celebrate each of their successes. Our Heavenly Father wants the same for each of
us.
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit
of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”
As I have grown in my willingness to be obedient, I have witnessed how powerful that
willingness to submit, is on the people in our lives. I share this call to be obedient not
because it has anything to do with me but because
I am overwhelmed how God touches the hearts of men and women when they see what
He can do. We continue to traverse to the ways of God in the next post.
Deb Durnin
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