Man sitting above the clouds looking across valley at sunrise

Need Some Direction? Well Don’t Just Pray. Move.

Picture by Joshua Earle

When I was young I wanted to be many things—but by the time I reached my teens I’d settled on becoming a nightclub DJ. I saved up and bought some equipment. I learned to mix and scratch and do the other tricks DJs did. I built my music collection, honed my skills, started DJing at some clubs and doing well in competitions. By the time I was nineteen, my giddy DJ dream was starting to come true.

Then I became a Christian and soon knew nightclubs weren’t part of God’s plans for me. I quit the scene, sold my equipment, and began wondering what God wanted for my life instead. I had no idea. So I began praying for guidance.

Waiting on Heaven

Young woman sitting, waiting

Picture by Kyle Broad

I prayed diligently for months. I knew I wanted to serve God, but wasn’t sure how. At school I’d been good at art, so I pondered studying graphic design. I had an interest in music production, so I thought about doing that. If I were to go overseas on mission, I prayed to know where. In case God wanted me to serve where I worked, I considered options there too.

The first glimmer of guidance came when I heard about a Christian radio network sharing the love of God overseas. Suddenly my heart beat fast, which was surprising given I’d never had an interest in radio. I prayed about this, but had no voice from heaven or sign in the sky confirming the way forward. In fact, two years of prayer later, I still had no clear direction for my life.

Prayer and Action

Then I read these words of Jesus:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Jesus says these words in a section of his Sermon on the Mount dealing with making good choices. In a world of options, distractions, temptations, and false guides, we need help in choosing well. And the starting point for such guidance, he says, is prayer—expectant, persistent, action-oriented prayer. “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

DTS - Man on phone

That’s when it hit me. Life with God requires both prayer and action. When Isaac needed a wife, Abraham’s servant prayed and started to search. When Nehemiah needed protection, he prayed to God and posted a guard. When Jesus fed the masses, he prayed and handed out bread. I had been praying for guidance but waiting in my room for an epiphany.

I had prayed but not acted. I had asked but not knocked.

So I did some research, made some calls, wrote some letters, and had some conversations. If that thumping heart was a sign I was to serve God through broadcasting, I’d need to learn about radio, get some formal Bible training, and find the funds to do both. In one of the most memorable guidance experiences of my life, all this came together on one day within weeks of putting action behind my prayer (I tell that story in chapter 2 of Resurrection Year).

Over to You

So what are you seeking God’s guidance for right now? And how are you putting action behind your prayer?

  • What information do you need to find out? What research do you need to do?
  • Who do you need to speak to whose experience you can learn from?
  • Is there any training you need to explore?
  • What doors do you need to knock on to see if they’ll open?

Jesus doesn’t tell us to ask and then wait. He tells us to ask, then seek and knock—to move. The principle applies for any prayer we offer, and particularly when making key choices for our lives. As a friend told me once:

“God steers a moving ship.”

Learn More

Resilient 3D Cover (right-facing) Adapted from Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life

 

Talk to Me

What are you seeking God’s guidance for right now? How are you putting action behind your prayer? Leave a comment below now or call me using the ‘Send Voicemail’ button on the right. Please also rate and share this podcast on iTunes to help others discover it!

Comments:

  • August 17, 2016
    Bev Murrill

    Amen and Amen!

    reply
  • August 17, 2016
    Michael Landstrom

    Waiting for an invitation to help with a local children’s home. Became involved encouraging some of these kids that go to my church and felt it tugging at at my heart. I applied to volunteer at the home, but only heard crickets. They said my background checks were good, but then nothing. It’s been over a year. Do I move on or stay the course? Felt sure God was leading me on this.

    reply
    • August 17, 2016

      Well done for stepping out in faith in the first place. When was the last time you called the home? I’d say a year without an answer means the answer is no, but your paperwork could simply have been lost. I’d give them one more call or (better) visit. After that, move on and find another avenue for the passion God has given you for troubled kids.

      reply
      • August 17, 2016
        Michael Landstrom

        I haven’t called them. I figured if I was needed they would contact me. I have given a girl a bible and a boy a guitar after making arrangements with the volunteer director. Also some school book bags. That was before my application. I also had a brother and three sisters sit with my family in church for half a year. That was a program through our church. Our church has taken on the children’s home as a local mission. Maybe that is all God wants me to do.? My gift is compassion and mercy so I feel like I need to do something more. I have two daughters so the little girls without dads moves me. Troubling.

        reply
        • August 17, 2016

          You never called them to follow up? Then go and put action to your prayers and do so straight away :). As I said, your paperwork may simply have gotten lost.

          reply
        • August 22, 2016
          Clare Alice

          In employment, often jobs go to the proactive person who has called or fronted up in person a couple of times, simply because they are more in the front of the decision makers mind. They’re probably flat-out and pieces of paper or emails get buried. It’s probably worth another call or visit or both!

          reply

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