An Atmosphere for Answered Prayer...

Happy Wednesday, Friends! Susie Larson here!

And to those visiting, I say welcome. I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.

Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. It's time to announce March's winner. Joy Berry, congratulations! Please email me at: susie@susielarson.com with your mailing address and I'll send you your gift card in the mail. And thank so everyone else who posted on the blog!

Now on to my topic...

Yesterday on Live the Promise I got to interview one of my favorite return guests, author and pastor Will Davis, Jr. We talked about his excellent book, "Pray BIG." If you need a spiritual shot in the arm, take some time and listen to the podcast from that show. Here's the link: Pray BIG!

At one point we discussed what an atmosphere for answered prayer looks like and we landed on the importance of obedience. In ways big and small, it matters that we obey. And as Will said on the show (my paraphrase), the Kingdom of God comes to earth through countless, small acts of obedience. And, Will reminded us, obedience almost always involves others: blessing others, encouraging others, ministering to others.

Also, we can pray all day long about a certain issue, but if God has already asked us to make the next right choice, and we have refused, we might as well be banging our head against the wall. Until we decide to obey, that is.  

Obedience matters deeply to God. 

But you know what else? Obedience brings a strong anointing on our lives. When God entrusts us with an opportunity to do something that matters to Him, and He finds us trust-worthy, He entrusts us with increase: increased opportunities, increased capacity to hear His voice, increased sensitivity to His Spirit, and an increased faith that we are linked in fellowship with Almighty God.

Have you obeyed the nudges God has given you lately? 

Make the call. Send the letter. Reach out to the neighbor. Pray the prayer. Send the money.

Read this powerful verse: 1 John 3:21-22

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, BECAUSE we keep His commands and do what pleases Him.

Stay in step with the Lord Jesus. Mind the nudges. Do what He says. Ask Him to work miracles in and through you. He loves to answer those kinds of prayers for those who are serious about walking with Him. He moves when people pray. He moves more often through the earnest prayers of His righteous ones. 

~Until next week

Comments

[Reba C]

Such a great topic-- very pertinent to what is going on in my life right now. I've been petitioning God for some pretty big things right now and this message was such an encouragement. Thank you for your ministry!

[Angie Mathison]

This is so timely. I am meeting with a new friend tomorrow for mentorship. This is a ministry I have wanted for so long! I am praying that it is a blessing to God and my friend!

[Alisha]

Holy frickin' cow! Yes! Look at you Susie! Coming in with all the right words at just the right time! This is the message I am trying to say to myself, but struggle to find the words! Does that make sense? I'm passing this along.

[Shelly Edwards]

I am finally coming into obedience on an issue God has been speaking to me for 5 years! Why am I so slow? I have a great verse from a recent bible study I completed..."You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north", Deut. 2:3. I even bought myself a compass to remind me of my commitment to obedience and celebrate the fact that I'm headin' north! God is good!

[Kathleen Martin]

Hi Susie,

Wow, I read this right on time. I cannot believe the miracles that God is doing all around me lately. It has me rather frightened. When I pray I sense I am on a local call lately rather than long distance! God is revealing His almighty power in my life. I didn't even think that maybe I was obeying Him or following His lead, I have been experiencing God to the fullest lately. At least as full as it is on earth, heaven will even be better:)

[Joy Berry]

I just wrote this yesterday to a friend: "You know I was just unwilling to bow down and do what God was saying, I hate that stubbornness in me! But the good news is God loves me enough to teach me when to stand and when to bow, and how to bow when I don't think I can. Every time It just reminds me I want what God wants. I think those areas are too painful to touch and God wants to put His hands right on those areas, and when I allow Him to, without pulling away, He heals them and changes them and He humbles me. And every time I think wow God is so patient and so loving."I need to be reminded constantly that odedience to God is the most important thing. Before I barely knew His voice, now I know it immediately and want to obey it immediately! I know by God's love and grace He will destroy any fear left in my life, each time I obey what God is saying to me, He destroys whatever fear was in the area of my life! Praise Him!!

[Joy Ballard]

Wow, I just posted a blog about this a few days ago! I've recently become very aware of how God speaks to us even when we are busy by putting people or situations on our minds, especially at very random moments. Instead of dismissing these "hints", I've been trying to respond by asking God if I should pray for that person, call them, write them, invite them over, etc. I'm so thankful that even in my busiest moments as a young mom, He still speaks to me constantly!

[Southern Belle]

I like how you wrote to "mind the nudges." When we do just that we're sure able to avoid a lot of headaches.