How many times have we heard… “I am praying for a sign from God.” Ironically enough the opportunity that presents itself more than likely was an answer to a previous prayer. All too often we want to dictate how we want our prayers to be answered, so when the answer comes if we do not like it we wait until something else comes along that aligns more with our comfort level. Could it be possible that the “sign from God” is as simple as you taking action?
Can we get transparent and honest with ourselves; and stop hiding behind the intention of prayer in order to avoid taking action on an opportunity?
By all means prayer works! Prayer is the channeling, the acknowledgement of as Napoleon Hill would say “Infinite Intelligence.” The power of prayer can changes the hearts of nations and gives strength to move beyond our current limitations.
But the other side of the coin to FAITH is ACTION. FAITH without WORKS/ACTIONS is dead. It is kind of like being freezing cold, God gave you a house with a fire place. Provided you chopped wood and matches but you stand there and freeze to death because you were waiting for a sign to light the fire place.
“I am praying and waiting on the Lord to give me a sign.” Can be a delay tactic which hinders us from utilizing the very things/resources/gifts or talents which are already in your grasp.
This reminds me of a powerful story from the Bible about this woman who had no money, she was about to loose her children and house. One day she came across a prophet and in absolute agony she told him of her helpless situation. He asked her what did she have of value, she told him of this small bottle of olive oil she had. He then told her to gather as many empty vessels as she could, after vessels were collected to take them in her house close the door and start pouring the oil that she already possessed into the empty vessels. The women did what she was told and from the little bitty bottle of oil she filled every single empty vessel she gathered. She turned her situation around by taking ACTION.
ACTION by asking for help. ACTION by being open to receiving a formula of resolution. ACTION by finding something of value. ACTION by stepping outside of her comfort zone and asking for the empty vessels. ACTION by following through with the formula. ACTION is what empowered her to completely transform.
She was a single mom, helpless, scared, and desperate; but by her FAITH by taking ACTION with what she had the little bottle of value that created a whole other situation for her and her family. It would have been so easy for her to accept her dilemma and to not be willing to take any ACTION; because how in the world would a little bottle turn into to gallons of oil. She could have talked herself out of taking action. However she did not. Someone gave her guidance, she had the FAITH to take ACTION.
This story always reminds me that each of us has something so special with in us that can turn our lives around. Think. Be absolutely honest with your self. What talents do you have that you have not used because you are still waiting on a sign? Maybe it is not the sign that is missing; but the willingness to trust in the talents you already posses. Talents may come easy but to continuously become better they must to be utilized. Your talents will never reach their potential if you constantly allow them to lay dormant.
Talents may be smothered by fear (False Evidence Appearing Real; the 1st time I heard this was at the Eker T Harv. Millionaire Mind Intensive), or it could be lie of paralyzing doubt (which may be caused by past experiences of failure, or by the belief that you are not good enough, or do not have what it takes) and/or it may be the case of P.P.S. (the Problematic Procrastination Syndrome).
“The distance between when you know you should do something and when you actually take action to do it is called procrastination.” Tony Rush
See the best way to cure P.P.S. is by taking ACTION!
I have a dear friend who is very loving and likes to help people. They constantly give their time and energy to everyone they encounter. This person is highly intelligent and creative; they could literally sale ice to a polar bear but they always have this convincing reason as to why they are not able to pour their skills into a lucrative endeavor. To them it just always seems that the time is not right. My friend has had about 3 to 4 great opportunities presented to them in the past couple of years. They may start course on the opportunity but then they stop; and say they are waiting on this or that to still happen before fully committing or taking action. Then when the next opportunity comes it seems better then the last but yet it is missing something. When all the while if they could just hold tight and run with just one opportunity it would then be the answer to what they were searching for to begin with.
There is a whole other world out there for you just waiting to reveal itself if you just activate the other portion of your FAITH muscle by taking ACTION. We are suppose to live a live in the abundance of His grace so why do you continue to expect so little from the Creator of the Universe?