What Happens When God, Answers by Evelyn Christenson 

Chapter 11:  When God Answers…Now Obey Me

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What happens when God answers?  What God always expects to happen—our obedience.

After God has answered our prayer, whether exciting, mind-boggling, or difficult, the next step is obedience.  When God answers our payer with a command, instruction, or an open door, He fully expects us to obey.  We must put into practice what God has told us in His answer.  And our obedience to what God has told us in His answer.  And our obedience to His answer to our prayer opens the curtain on the next act of our lives.  “So shall my word be which goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11, NASB.

This is the God of the universe speaking, the One whom all the stars, planets, weather, and seasons obey.  The One who spoke, and the universe came into being.  The One who spoke, and the sea was calm.  Who spoke, and the dead came alive.  The One who expects obedience to His words. 

However, God does not coerce us into obeying His answers to our prayers.  He has given each of us a free will, with the privilege of responding as we choose.  And astoundingly, we humans frequently ignore, rebel, make excuses, refuse to obey, or even laugh at a certain answer from Him.  This is amazing in light of the fact that it is the omniscient God of the universe who has answered us. 

Our son, Kurt, said it to me this way:  “Remember, when dealing with the Great Potter, the quality of the pot is solely determined by the malleability of the clay.”  It is our ability and willingness as clay to obey and be shaped by ‘God, the Potter, that ultimately fashions what we are—and what God can do through us.

Have you ever wondered what you have missed in life because of a wrong response to God’s direction?

I must admit that I have wondered what I have missed in my life because of a wrong response to God’s direction.  How do I know I may have gone in my direction instead of Gods?  PEACE, the lack of peace in my life indicates to me that I might have made decisions because of my dreams and my plans. 

I had always believed that God had a special plan for my life.  I also believed that he would get me to that plan in his own timing, but someone I respected told me that God does not have an ultimate plan for me, that there are many paths that I could choose.  It does not matter to God.

So, I went about my life trying all different avenues of serving God and they worked for awhile, but eventually fizzled out.  I got to the point that I was worn out and tired, trying to find the dreams in my heart.

Looking back on my life can often be 20/20 vision.  After spending so much time running around in circles, I started to see what had happened. 

I was working very hard trying to start a ministry and getting no where.  I remembered back to the beginning of all of this that I felt like God was speaking to me that I should be a writer.  Now, I loved writing, but did not feel qualified in anyway to write.  I was doing it all the time, but did not consider myself a writer. 

Looking back, God would show me over and over that he wanted me to write, but I could not believe that he would ever call me to be a writer.  I had published a book called, He’s SPEAKING!  Are we LISTENING? But I would not admit that I was a writer.

Well, my story is long, but the bottom line is that I could hear God speaking to my heart very quietly telling me to write, but my lack of confidence kept me submitting to this call in my life.

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What are you missing that Jesus had planned for you?  Joy, hope, peace?  An intimate walk with Jesus?  Renewed fellowship with Him? Are you living like the disciples—in despair, defeat, fear, tears, unbelief, and disobedience?  Then it is because your response to His words also has been wrong.  Perhaps you are feeling that there are good reasons why you should not believe and obey.  But the hard fact is that you are missing the triumphant, joyous relationship with Him that He is longing to have with you—if you were obedient.

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One of the most difficult aspects of obedience is being willing not to do something.  Obedience isn't only going and doing, it also is not going and not doing.  This is especially hard when we feel that the job or activity is so right and so necessary.

Little by little God began taking each of the things I was doing out of my life.  It was so hard.  All I really wanted to do was serve God, but it seemed like he would take each thing I would pursue out of my life.

So here are my thoughts today:

I believe there is a perfect plan for my life. I have tried going after my plans over and over again, but they never lasted. I want to find God's ultimate plan for my life, so this needs to begin with what I do know he wants for me.  

I know without a doubt that God has called me to be a writer.  I also know that I am not the best writer in the world, but I lay my writing before him and will let him do what he wants to do with it.  I give it all back to him.

I am quite sure he wants me to quit running after my plans and allow him to bless me with his plans for my life.  Please pray for me.
 

I would also highly encourage you to read this book, What Happens When God Answers.  It is truly incredible.  There is so much to be learned from the words of my/your dear mentor and friend, Evelyn Christenson. 

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,

I know the plans You have for me are best.  Forgive me for all the times I have stubbornly gone my own way.  Teach me to listen to Your answers to my prayers, and then to obey exactly what You have told me to do—or not to do.  Thank you, Father for all the wonderful rewards You have ready for me when I do obey You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.