The praying church not only listens to God and expects Him to answer, but the people in that

church also say “yes” to God before He tells them what He wants them to do. They don’t wait for

God to unveil His plan so they can evaluate whether or not it’s convenient, logical, doable,

comfortable, fits in with their schedule. Bottom line: the faithfully praying church has already

decided to be obedient!

“Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in

all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.” (Jeremiah 7:23)

The faithfully praying obedient church blesses and affirms their brothers and sisters as they step

out in obedience to their own individual calling – even when tears in doing so might be involved

– perhaps as they move toward their new calling at one of our other campuses or accept God’s

call to serve in another state or country.

As the praying church is obedient, they are reminded that their faith is not in a man or woman –

even gifted leaders – but in our God who blessed our fellowship with those people for a season.

There was a time when Paul’s friends tried to convince him not to move on – until we gave up

and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” (Acts 21:14)

Obedience of this sort really isn’t the sad sack kind of acceptance. As “believing” believers, we

know that God has awesome plans for everyone in this process – awesome plans for those that

will be blessed in the new calling, awesome plans for the obedient church that God has already

blessed more than we could have imagined.

As we choose to be the praying obedient people in the church we have imagined this week,

here are some things we’ll see:

1 – More grace-filled people, fewer critical people

2 – A people living their faith

3 – Loving accountability

4 – Generosity of time, talent, and treasure

5 – Hope-filled people as they leave our church campus

6 – Sense of expectancy and excitement about what God has in store for His church



Are you willing to be that obedient believer who listens to God with a “yes” in your heart? Are

you willing to pray that God would bless our fellowship with these six qualities of a praying

church? Remember: you will only be awed by the answers to prayers that you actually prayed.

So, let’s be that faithfully praying, obedient church!

By Judy Shrout