Chapter 6: Ep 3: Faith in Action: Taking Bold Steps Forward

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Welcome back, Faith Warriors, to the Diary of the Black Woman podcast with our devotional series.

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Last episode, we tackled the art of waiting on God, but now we're moving on

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to the part that really brings it all home, taking action.

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It's one thing to wait and hear from God, But the true test comes when we need

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to take a step in faith and to do something. Ain't that the truth?

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We can talk about it, but it's time to be about it.

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And trust me, action is where the magic happens.

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Have you ever prayed for something and when God gives you the answer,

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you're like, wait, you want me

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to do what? But, yep, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

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Faith isn't just about sitting on the sidelines.

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It's about getting in the game.

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In today's episode, we're diving into what it means to live out our faith with

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bold, courageous action.

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If you're ready to step up, this episode is for you.

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All right, let's get real. Faith without action is dead.

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According to James 2, 26, said it is as plain as day.

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We can pray, we can wait, but if we don't act on what God tells us to do,

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our faith isn't going to grow.

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God doesn't call us to sit still. He calls us to move.

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Dang, got something in my throat when I said that. Okay, now let me hold on a second.

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God calls us to move. And once you've asked, you've waited, the next step is what?

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Obedience. So it's time to take action.

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Think about it. Every time God answered a prayer in the Bible, it required a response.

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Noah had to build the ark.

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Moses had to step into the Red Sea. Even Jesus told the lame man to pick up his mat and walk.

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Today, we're going to break down James 1, 19 through 27.

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It's all about not just hearing the word, but doing the word.

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Are you ready to get your faith moving? So let's dive in.

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So James 1, 19 through 27. the importance of living out the word.

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James 1.22 hits us with a truth bomb.

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Don't merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. Do what it says.

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Whoa, that's right. It's easier to hear sermons, read devotionals.

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Come on now, listen to podcasts like this one.

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But the real question is, what are you doing with what you learned.

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If you only listen and never take action, we're missing out on the full power of God. That's so good.

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I just want to repeat that. If you're only listening to sermon,

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reading devotionals, Come on now and listen to podcasts like mine's,

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but not doing what the word says.

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Then you're missing out on the full power of God.

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God is a God of action. He is a God of obedience.

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So here's the big thing. Asking and waiting are just a setup.

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Action is a grand finale.

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It's where the rubber meets the road. Think of it this way.

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You've prayed, you heard from God, and now it's time to step out in faith.

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Oh, it's scary. I know. But if

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you don't act, you never see the incredible things God can do through you.

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It's time to be bold, take that leap, and trust that God got your back.

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Okay, let's get real. how do we apply this in our everyday lives?

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Maybe God's been nudging you to forgive someone.

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But you've been holding back. Or maybe he's calling you to serve in the ministry,

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but you're dragging your feet.

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Today is the day to take that step.

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Here are some simple ways you can start living out your faith.

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Serve someone. Find one person this week that you can serve.

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It could be something small, help a neighbor, offer encouragement, lend a hand.

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Faith grows when we serve someone.

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Forgive someone. Holding on to bitterness, it's time to let that go.

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Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's a powerful act of faith that sets you free.

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Share your story. Tell someone about what God is doing in your life.

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Sharing your faith helps you grow and encourages others.

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Remember the first episode says, Lord, what would you have me to do?

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Well, begin to start that process of doing just that.

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You know, faith is active and you live it out daily.

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Remember, it's not about perfection. It's about progress.

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Every step of faith you take brings you closer to the person God has called you to be.

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So this week, don't just listen, do.

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Ask God what he wants you to do today and then go for it.

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And so the challenge this week, I challenge you to step out in faith,

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whether it's forgiving someone, serving someone, sharing your story,

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do something that stretches your faith that come, then come back and tell me how it went.

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Do that thing that you asked him on the first episode, Lord,

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what would you have me to do?

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Let's go to James 1, 19 to 27. The Bible tells us to be doers of the word, not just hearers only.

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Faith is more than just believing. It's about doing.

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You ever hear the people, you ask someone, Would you want to do this?

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I got to pray about it first.

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People are always in the praying mode. I haven't heard from God about it yet.

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Sometimes God wants us to be about it first.

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Sometimes we just have to move.

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So faith is not just believing, it's doing. James tells us that faith without our action is dead.

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This means that after we ask and wait, there comes a time, especially between

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that waiting time, that we might have to step out boldly and put our faith into action.

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Whether it's forgiving, serving, or making bold decisions, your faith must be lived out.

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So think about some areas in your life where you need to take the next step of faith?

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Where is God calling you to move?

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Remember, God equips you for everything he calls you to do. So don't hesitate.

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Act with confidence. So here goes some points of encouragement.

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Number one, it says take the first leap.

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Faith grows when you act on it, whether it's small steps or big decisions.

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God is calling you to move forward in faith.

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So you done wrote about it. You done prayed about it. now God's saying be about it.

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It could be a small step or it can be a big step.

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But remember God's, remember I mentioned in the first episode that boldness open doors.

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And so there's an always an opportunity when it's easy, when that door is already open.

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So when God, though you asked the Lord, what is there for me to do?

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The door is now open for you to go through it. So go through the open doors, but you hesitate.

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That door is going to be closed. It's going to be a little bit harder to get through it.

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So instant obedient is obedient.

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Delayed obedience is disobedience. Number two, God's strength in your action.

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You don't have to do it alone. God is with you in every step of obedience.

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When you take action, he provides the strength and the wisdom you need.

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And so what you fall, right?

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So you're learning like a baby taking the first step. Ooh, that wasn't right.

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And you fall down. So what, right?

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You get back up and you do it again. But remember, God has your back.

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Number three, faith transforms through action. When you live out your faith,

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it not only transforms your life, but also the lives of those around you.

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Be a beacon of God, of God's love through your action.

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So take the leap, trust God for the strength in your action.

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And let faith transform you through action.

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James 1, 19 to 27, be doers of the word and not just to hear us only.

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James 2.17. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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Faith must be active and lived out in action. This encouraged us to take both

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steps to live out in faith.

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So you just, faith has action. Faith has action.

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So you sitting there saying, I'm waiting for the Lord, the Lord said,

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I'm waiting on you. Faith has action.

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I like to say faith has action steps. Action steps.

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Philippians 2, 3, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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And so for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good

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pleasure. So it's God who works in you.

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God equips us to act according to his will.

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He gives us confidence that our actions align with his purpose when we respond to his call.

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So don't worry about messing it up. Just move.

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Just move. Ephesians 2.10, it says, we are his workmanship created.

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That's powerful because it reminds us that he already knows what we are destined to do.

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But I love this. He says, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus

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for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk.

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So there's some movement here that we should walk in them.

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So God is waiting for us to move.

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You've already asked. You prayed. You waited.

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And so now it's time to move.

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This verse encourages us to step into good works that God has prepared for us with confidence.

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And so our challenge this week is to step out in faith, to step out in faith, to forgive someone.

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Now that might seem kind of uncomfortable.

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They probably say, I didn't know you were mad at me. Well, I'm forgiving you.

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So you know, I'm wants to serve someone, share your story, Do what God has told you to do a long time ago.

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You know, just do that thing. Lord, what would you have me to do?

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You probably wrote it down. You prayed about it. You waited.

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This is the third episode and you still haven't done it.

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God says, go ahead and do that now. Time to do that now.

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We asked. Now we waited. Now it's time to do that.

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All right. So let's get going. In our next episode, we'll talk about the amazing

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assurance we have in Christ,

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knowing that he's interceding for us, making all the difference in our prayer life.

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You don't want to miss it. So make sure to subscribe, share,

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and save, share, and come back next week.

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Until then, stay blessed, stay bold, and keep walking in God's grace.

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Thanks again for joining me on Diary of a Black Woman podcast,

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the devotional series. I'm your host, Connie Morris.

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Stay fired up. Please subscribe, review, and share it with someone who needs

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that extra push to take action.

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And remember, you can always find more encouragement and resources on my website,

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diaryofblackwomenllc.com.

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Until next time, keep moving forward in faith and living out your purpose.

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Amen. Amen. Thanks for joining me.