4:110 – Open, Pray, Listen, Act

#faithbites #faithjourney act

Setting

I woke up with a splitting headache this morning. While I was in the shower I was thinking about how much it hurt then realized what my wife would say if I told her about it. She would say, “Well, did you take anything for it?” The solution to my headache would be to take ibuprofen or Tylenol and maybe have some caffeine if it was the start of a migraine. Pretty simple solution to a problem that was bothering me. But, I would have to take the action to fix it.

Our #faithjourney and life are just like that. We have to admit we have a problem or need, pray to God, listen to what he tells us to do, then act on it. If any one of these is missing, we are not going to see solutions. We’ve all had problems that we’ve complained about and tried to fix on our own, but nothing changed. Why not? We didn’t go to God in prayer and ask. Sometimes, we know we need something and pray, but don’t listen to what God says because maybe it’s not the answer we want. Other times, we listen but fail to act on it.

God tells us what we need to do, we just need to do all four steps!

Today’s questions: Which of these four do you find most challenging? How can you use your faith and God’s word to work through the Open, Pray, Listen, and Act process?

Scripture

• Open
  • Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• Pray
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray continually
• Listen
  • Jon 10:27-28 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
  • Psalm 25:4-4 – Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
• Act
  • Mark 4:24 – And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.
  • James 1:23-25 – “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Reflection

God is very clear in his word. We are to be open to him, pray continually, listen to what he has to say, and take action. As a reminder, this action isn’t about salvation, we know that isn’t from works but from faith in Christ and his sacrifice. This action is to improve the lives of others and our own life. God tells us he will answer all prayers and we will inherit Jesus’s inheritance.

As we look at the scriptures, we need to actively listen to him and act. I know it’s hard. Often, I pray and the answers aren’t what I want. Or he gives me answers, but I don’t understand them. That could be because I wasn’t open enough, I didn’t pray enough, or I have my own sin and desires in the way. If we go back to my headache and I didn’t make the modification as asked, it would be like praying to God and not listening or acting.

We are God’s children and he wants the best for us. He can’t give us what he wants to and what we need if we aren’t open to him, communicating with him (prayer), listening to how he is answering our prayers, or acting as he asks.

As we close, remember that He will provide for you. You just need to do your part.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we pray today that you help us be 100% open to you and know we have a problem or an unmet. Help us to be with you in prayer and express that need. Lord, we then ask for you to help us take your response in our heart and take any actions we need to make that a reality. We know you don’t need us but you invite us to be your children and grow through the free will you gave us.

Lord Jesus, please forgive us when we forget one or more parts of this. Let us follow you and live a life that is imitating how you lived. You were open to your Father, prayed continually, listened to him, and lived out his commands daily. We pray all this in your name, Amen.