Christian Living and Personal Growth – Godly Gleam

I vividly remember the moment when I received a word from God through a mentor. She said I would one day run my own business. It was exciting, but I couldn't picture it happening. I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs, and I had no idea how to start a business. For years, I waited for things to fall into place, but nothing happened. It wasn’t until I took small, intentional steps such as attending business courses, joining groups, and planning, that I began to see progress. God had given the word, but I had to take action for it to come to pass. This experience taught me a valuable lesson: hearing from God is just the beginning. Faith requires action. You can receive a prophetic word or sense God’s direction for your life, but if you don’t put your faith into action, you may never see it fulfilled. But that’s just the beginning—there’s much more to understand about how God works through our actions. Let’s dive deeper into this truth and learn how we can move from simply waiting to acting in faith. Faith Without Action is Incomplete When God speaks a word over our lives, whether through a pastor, mentor, or directly in prayer, it can feel like a powerful promise. But that promise requires us to do something with it. Faith is not passive; it’s active. In my own journey, I held onto the word that I would start a business, but for years, I didn’t know what to do with it. I believed the word but took no steps toward making it a reality. It was only when I stepped out in faith, despite my lack of knowledge and experience, that things started to happen. I began attending business courses, networking with others, and slowly building my startup. Today, I have a business structure, connections, and a clearer vision for the future, but none of that would have been possible if I had only waited. Faith without action is like planting a seed but never watering it. It won’t grow on its own. You may believe God has called you to do something specific, but unless you take action, whether it’s educating yourself, seeking counsel, or making plans, you might never see it come to pass. God honors faith that steps out, even when we don’t have all the answers. Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) encourages us, "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." Don’t Wait for the "Perfect Time" One of the biggest mistakes we make is waiting for the perfect time to act. We wait until we feel more qualified, until our finances are in better shape, or until we’ve mastered the skills we think are necessary. But Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT) gives us this sobering truth: "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." There were moments in my own life where I delayed acting on God’s word, thinking I needed more preparation. But looking back, I realize that waiting for the perfect conditions kept me stagnant. God doesn’t require us to have everything figured out before we step out in faith, He simply asks for our obedience. The truth is, we will never feel completely ready, and if we keep waiting for the perfect moment, we may never move at all. If you sense God calling you to take a step of faith, whether it’s starting a business, serving in ministry, or pursuing a new direction, don’t wait until everything lines up perfectly. Take action now, and trust that God will provide what you need as you move forward. As Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Seeking God’s Direction Before You Act While taking action is essential, it’s also important to seek God’s direction first. Acting without prayer and discernment can lead to unnecessary frustration or mistakes. The key is to balance faith with wisdom, making sure you are moving in God’s timing and direction. Before I took steps toward starting my business, I committed the entire process to the Lord in prayer. I asked for His guidance and wisdom, and I sought counsel from spiritually mature people in my church. Proverbs 15:22 (NLT) says, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success." Seeking advice from others and praying over your decisions allows you to align your plans with God’s will. I also set a time of focused prayer, asking God to confirm the steps I should take. I remember praying for two weeks, asking God to give me a sense of peace about moving forward with the business. If I didn’t hear anything specific, I committed to moving forward with the steps I had peace about, trusting that God would redirect me if I was off course. In doing this, I found that God was faithful to guide me, and my actions became an extension of my trust in Him. Act in Faith and Trust God with the Outcome Taking action doesn’t mean we have everything figured out, it means we trust God to guide our steps as we move forward. Often, we use the phrase "waiting on the Lord" as a reason to delay or hesitate, fearing that we might make the wrong move. While there is a time to wait on God, waiting shouldn’t be an excuse for inaction. Once you’ve sought God’s direction and committed your plans to Him, it’s time to act. Isaiah 30:21 (NLT) says this: "Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left." Claim this verse for yourselves. When we act in faith, God is faithful to guide us, even if we take a misstep. He is more than able to correct our course if we are seeking Him wholeheartedly. For example, when I started networking with other entrepreneurs, I had no idea what I was doing. I often felt out of place and unqualified. But as I continued to step out, God opened doors I never could have anticipated. I didn’t have to know every detail ahead of time, I simply needed to act in faith and trust God with the outcome. Moving Forward With Confidence Taking action on a word from God is an expression of your faith. It shows that you trust God not only with the promise He gave you but also with the process of bringing it to pass. Whether you’re starting a new venture, stepping into ministry, or making a life decision, the key is to seek God, commit your plans to Him, and then move forward with confidence. Remember that God is with you every step of the way. As Psalm 37:23 (NLT) reminds us, "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." As you act in faith, God will guide you, strengthen you, and bring His plans for your life to fulfillment. So, if you’re waiting on a word from God to come to pass, don’t sit idly by. Pray, seek His guidance, and then take that step of faith. God has already gone before you, now it’s your turn to move forward in obedience and trust.