The Way of Faith: Walking In Obedience

Listening for God's Blueprint: The Power of Obedience 

Don't you wish you could hit a pause button—a way to mute all the conflicting voices that try to influence the big decisions in your life? I know I do. It’s amazing how everyone, including that often-loud voice in your own head, has an opinion about what you should do.

In moments like these, I've learned to lean into God's presence, patiently waiting in silence just to hear His voice. 

Here's the sincere truth: when I finally hear what God is saying, it's rarely what I want to hear. But if my desire is to truly please Him, then I must obey what He says, even when it makes no sense to me. 

As you read this, please hold onto this profound truth: "Obedience is better than sacrifice."

Faith is Not Just Believing—It’s Doing

If you're anything like me, you want to know the end from the beginning. Yet, often all we see is a small snap of what's happening right now, in the middle of the process. I've come to understand that this walk of faith isn't about what I want to know or fully understand; it's about knowing the ways of God and walking in obedience to them.

Not understanding God's ways can be painful, and if we're not careful, we might start to question Him. We absolutely cannot allow our lack of understanding to cause us to lose our trust in Him.

Walking by faith requires us to not just believe, but to actively do what is required of us. It means being obedient to God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. To live a life of faith, we must learn to obey even when we don't understand the full picture.

The Mystery of Hearing and Doing

The Bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). But if faith is about unseen evidence, why is obedience central?

Apostle Paul gives us a critical piece of the puzzle when he writes, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Paul was pointing back to what God told Israel through Moses:

"The word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deuteronomy 30:14)

The Hebrew word for "hear" in this context is "shama", which means to listen, to hear, to obey, and to follow.

When we look at Romans 10:17 through that lens, it reads: "So then faith comes by hearing (listening, obeying, following), and hearing (listening, obeying, following) by the word of God."

This is why James tells us that "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). Obedience is the work—it is actively listening, hearing, obeying, and doing.

Listen, Hear, and Move

We all can hear sound, but listening requires giving our undivided attention. Hearing and listening are what enable us to move (do) according to God’s will.

Consider the Prophet Elijah. He spoke of the "sound of abundance of rain" (1Kings 18:41) when it was still a time of drought. He heard in his spirit what God was saying. He then went to listen for the specific instruction to give his servant, and only after the instruction was followed—only after they listened, heard, and moved—did the sky cloud over and the heavy rain come.

Like Elijah and every person of faith in the Bible, our ability to walk in the way of faith depends on our active hearing so we know what to do next.

Don’t allow the noise from the world, the voices of others, or even the doubts in your own head to influence your decisions. God has the complete blueprint for your life, and He will guide you.

Remember David’s encouraging words: even when he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he would not fear evil, because God was with him. Whatever you are walking through right now is only a shadow, and God is still with you. Just listen and obey. Walk with Him, because He will never leave you if you simply obey His voice.

Your Call to Action:

If you are struggling to find your path and consistently hear God's voice over the noise of the world, it’s time to take a courageous step forward.

Take Action Today: Are you ready to stop letting fear and past struggles dictate your future? Your purpose is waiting for you on the other side of your obstacles. Learn how to transform your challenges into the fuel for your life's mission.

Click here to get your copy of my book, "Overcome to Fulfill Your Purpose - "Become Successfully You" and begin your journey toward a life of confident, obedient, and purposeful faith.