"Hearing and Responding: Ep 4: The Power of God's Words"

0:00 Music. Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast with your host, Connie Morris, where truth speaks, healing begins, and every word is rooted in faith. Before we begin, let us go before the Lord in prayer. Father God, we thank you for this moment. We thank you for every listener, every heart, and every home represented. We invite your presence into this space. As we begin, we stand on the words of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4.10.

0:42 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, So that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me. And God granted him that which he requested. Lord, today we echo that same prayer. Bless us indeed. Bless every woman listening. Bless her mind, her body, her relationships, her dreams, and her destiny. Let your blessing not only surround her, but transform her. Enlarge our coast. Stretch us beyond what we thought was possible. Expand our influence, our impact, and the reach of this message.

1:24 Not for our glory, but for yours. Let your hand be with us. Go before us in every conversation. Guide our words, anoint our purpose, and let every episode carry your truth with clarity and power. Keep us from evil that it may not grieve us. Shield us from harm, from cycles of sorrow, from spiritual attack and emotional heaviness. Cover us in your grace so we rise in strength, not in grief, in wholeness, not in wounds. And just as you granted Jabez what he requested, Lord, grant it unto us. Let this podcast be a wellspring of truth, a refuge for healing, and a launchpad for purpose. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

2:09 Welcome back to Diary of a Black Woman Faith on the Go series. I'm your host, Connie Morris. I'm excited to continue our powerful series, When God Wants to Talk. In today's episode, we're talking about when God has something to say. Up until now, we've learned that God speaks, right? Whether in the stillness of the night, through whispers, or in those divine wake-up calls. Cause. But today, we are going to focus on something even deeper, the message that he tells us, right? God wakes us up. He speaks. What about that message? That divine impartation is not just noise.

2:50 His voice isn't just for us to hear, but to act upon. I know I've been kind of really getting into that. God just don't want you to be a hearer of the word only. He wants you to also be a doer of the word. So his voice isn't just for us to hear, but for us to do something, for us to act upon it. So every word he speaks carries direction, healing, purpose, and sometimes correction. I think I spoke about that correction in one of my other episodes. God is always fine tuning us into his perfect plan for our lives, right? And sometimes it's like, you know, Like a father and a mom, you know, when we grew up as children, they were always correcting us, keeping us in line.

3:36 And so God, our Heavenly Father, does the same. And the Holy Spirit, who's always around, is a convictor of sin. So he keeps us in check all the time. So we're not just listening to feel the silence. We're not just doing something. We are actually participating in hearing from the Creator who desires to reveal himself. His will, and his ways. So today we're going to explore how to recognize the weight of the message, how to respond, and why every word that he speaks is for our good. There's a song out there, it works for our good. But if you ain't doing what God tells you or responding to his voice, it's not going to be for your good. Amen.

4:24 God doesn't waste his breath. He speaks and it changes us. God speaks and it changes us. So let's dive in. Let's just talk about the weight of his words, right? And Isaiah 55, 11 says, so in my word, it's my word that goes forth out of my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sin. In the quiet moments when God speaks, his word, words carry weight. They're not just words. You know, we are allowed to speak as humans. And sometimes we just talk to hear ourselves talk. Can I get an amen out there?

5:05 But when the God of heaven speak to us, he is not just talking to hear himself talk. He is talking to get you to move into a position, right? To respond in obedience. These words are transformative, they're directive, and they are life-altering. When we hear his voice, we are not just hearing an idea or a a suggestion. We're receiving divine instructions. So it is my word that goes out of my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent. God's words have a purpose, and that purpose is always good.

5:50 His word doesn't just inform us. It shapes us and it shapes the world around us. Think about the words God spoke to Jeremiah. Here in Jeremiah 1.9, it reads, when the Lord reaches out his hand and touched my mouth, he said, I put my words in your mouth. So when God speaks, he doesn't just want us to receive his message. He wants us to steward it, take action with it, let it transform us. And it says, if God has spoken to you recently, whether through a scripture, a dream, a prophetic word, or that still small voice, it's not just for you to absorb, but for you to act upon it.

6:36 In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel heard the Lord's voice, but it was only after he understood the voice of God that he responded. When he was able to identify that that was the Lord speaking to him, then he responded. He said, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. That's found in 1 Samuel 3.10. God's words are life-altering. They call us higher. They correct our path. They illuminate the dark places, but in order for God's word to work in your life, you must receive it with faith and obedience.

7:16 You hear that? In order for it to work, you must receive it with faith and obedience. What do we do with the weight of God's words? You know, you hear this as an instructor, if you've ever taught a class or if you've ever been in experience of being in training or being a trainer, oftentimes you'll hear people say, I've heard that before. I've heard that before. And it's like, okay, you heard that before, but what have you done since you heard it? Have you used it? Have you applied it? And so if you haven't done anything with it, God has a way in life, even throughout his scripture, to repeat things. And I don't know about you, but he sometimes have to repeat things to us.

8:00 So I don't think we should get the big head and say, I've heard that before. Why are you saying it again? Why are you repeating it? You ever notice though, when there's a series, maybe your pastor might be on a series and he has a foundational scripture that he repeats every time he covers that series of Maybe he has a 10-part series, but he has a foundational scripture that he reads over and over and over again. And sometimes we as parishioners, we check out during that time. But until we actually get it, God will have that service, that particular series seem like it goes on and on forever because we have yet to apply it because we check out because we've heard it before.

8:50 How many know that if God's words carries weight, that means there's so much more inside of that word, that scripture, that he's still trying to reveal to us, right? And so we have to pay attention when God is repeating himself. So what do we do with the weight of God's words? First, we receive it by faith. So that's pretty much, you take it. It's like when you go, even if you don't like it, you know, back when we were younger, we didn't like vegetables. And some of us as adults probably still don't like vegetables. But as adults, you have an option not to eat them. But as children, we had to eat our vegetables.

9:30 So just like some of the words that God gives us, we pretty much might not like them, but we have to eat them anyway. So we have to receive it by faith. So we receive it. I receive your word by faith, Lord. Just receive it. Whether your mind can understand it, whether your heart can get it, you receive it by faith. Number two, you believe them for their power to change. Believe that the word that God has given you has the power to change your circumstances. Your mindset, your heart, your family, your boss's life, your situation, anything. That when God gives you a word, whether it's one word, where it's a scripture, whatever he speaks into your heart, that that word has enough power to change whatever you are going through.

10:23 And many times we want, we, you know, sometimes, and I've been guilty of this until I began to have my own prayer life, right? When you don't have a prayer life, when you don't have a relationship with God, when a prophetic person comes into your church and you said, prophet so-and-so will be in the building today, right? You want to make sure that you're in a front row because you want him or her to see you so they will have a prophetic word for you. But you don't realize that when God wants to talk, that he is the prophet, that he has a word for you. It doesn't always have to come from, I call it a stranger, even though they have a call on their life. That's awesome. And that's wonderful.

11:06 But God walks in the room and he has a word for you, but you are missing the moment because you're expected to come from this person, right? And you want it to come in front of everybody and just like name it. You want them to wave their hands over you and say this powerful prophetic word when actuality God is speaking to you every moment, every day. He always has a word for you. So when you get that revelation that God's word is, that God, first of all that's always in the room. God wants to talk to you and that his words carry weight so that when you have a prophetic word, from someone. You're not searching for someone to have a word for you because God is giving you words.

11:52 You get what I'm saying? And so you're not the first one in trying to fight for the front row so you can be seen, so you can have a word from this person, you know, because you already have a relationship with God, right? Not saying that that's a bad thing, but it can be a bad thing if that's the only way you are getting your word. That was straight off the press. Thank you, Lord, for that? That was straight off the press. So receive them in faith. Believe that the word that God gives you has the power to change your life. And I can tell you that when God gives me a word, it gives you the power to change your life. I always think things are not happenstance when you are a Christian.

12:36 And so recently, like I mentioned in the podcast, I was kind of voted in as vice president. The president wasn't really doing what she was supposed to do. And so we had to do some things and remove her. So now I am the president of the HOA. Now I got too much stuff to do to be the president of the HOA because it's really out of order. It's dysfunctional. But the Lord put me there and he says, I want you to move. And he said it to me. He says, I need you to move. I want you to move some things around, move some things around. And so I'm thinking like, whoa, what moves some things around? First thing was move the present out the way. Then he started talking about how he wants to get things in order.

13:17 Remember, God is the author and finisher of our faith. So remember, if you listen to him, he's telling you how to get things in order. And so I told the team, I said, we're getting ready to get some things in order. Are you with me or not? And we're getting ready. It's going to be uncomfortable because things have been out of order so long. And so when you come in putting things in order, you know, people like to resist. And so you got to be ready to resist. But the Lord told me that I got your back. And so that gives you that weight of God's word. I received it. I believe that it has the power to change circumstances. And right now the president is quiet. it. She doesn't know what to do because she thought that all the things she threw at me was going to stop me.

14:02 And I was like, girl, I just getting started because how I know, because the weight of God's word has ability to change circumstances. It's the weirdest thing, but I want to share with you when you're walking in the authority that God has given you, people look at you differently. You can see the little demon in their eyes, kind of like, who is, who are you? Who gives you that authority? And really, if you read your bylaws and your covenants and you understand what the contract says, you already can say this person is in violation. It's not that deep, right? But it is that deep if you don't move forward in what you already see. Amen. Another part three of this is you got to act on it with boldness, knowing that God who speaks is also who empowers you. I'm not going at this alone.

14:51 It's interesting because as a police officer, we're all trained the same. And so we're trained to, whatever position we're in, we're always training. But you already know that the person behind you, the person beside you, the person in front of you, we all receive the same training. So when we enter the home under extreme circumstances, when we stop a car under extreme circumstances, when we're fighting with someone, we all have the same training. So we have an expectation of what that other person can do in this little fight or situation that we're in. And that's the same way you should be with God. Knowing you've already had some past battles with him.

15:32 Knowing that you know that when you act, when you partner with God and you receive his word by faith, and you believe that these words has power to change your situation and you act on it, you already know that you are empowered to be victorious in this situation. Why? Because you have prior experience with him, right? You've been training, God has been training you on what to expect from him. And so you don't have to walk in fear or any doubt, just walk. And he's with you. Remember he's in the room. If he's whispering, I always like to say that he's in the room. He said, he'll never leave us or forsake us. So he's not a far off God. He's a close and personal God. Right? So when he says, go, Connie, go, you know, he's right there running with you.

16:17 You know, if you ever ran track or any sports, you know, you had, you ever had your coach running right beside you. You know that if he's coaching you and he's able to run with you, you know, he, he knows what he's talking about. You get what I'm saying? You got a coach who's on a bicycle coaching with you. That's cool too. But if he's a coach that's running right beside you, telling you to go, go, go as you run around that track, you know, he's already been there before. He knows what it takes to win. God knows what it takes to win. He knows you have what it takes to win. And that's why he wakes you up in the morning, talks to you at night. He's your coach, but you can't do it without faith. You can't do it without believing in that power.

16:59 You cannot do it without acting with boldness. And so when God speaks to you, it's not just a passive experience. It's an invitation to move, to change, to become who he is calling you to be. The challenge is when God speaks. It's not whether, it's not when, the challenge is when God speaks. It's not whether he's speaking, it's how we respond. We know he speaks. So you got to, how are you going to respond to the voice of the Lord? And something about when he speaks is loving. It can sound like a coach sometimes, we know. And sometimes it can sound like a father. It can sound like a friend, depending on what he wants you to do at that time.

17:42 God's voice is powerful, purposeful, and personal. God's voice is powerful, purposeful, and personal. But our response determines whether we receive what he is saying or not. There's a reason the Bible repeatedly says, he who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 11, 15 and Revelations 2, 7, God is speaking to us all the time, but our response to his voice shapes how his message impacts our life. And that's something. God is speaking to us all the time. It's how we respond to his message and that's how it determines how it will impact our lives.

18:24 1 Samuel 3.10, it says, as a powerful example, how to respond to God's call. Samuel, after hearing God's voice three times, finally responded with, speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. You know, as you begin to start a new relationship with God, as you begin to want to spend time with him, listening and determining his voice, that you will learn that God wants an interaction with you. Remember, speak, Lord God. Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. That response was not a passive response. It was an active response. It was a response to what do you want me to do? What do you want me to do? Intentional invitation to listen and obey. It's an intentional invitation to listen and obey.

19:09 And as I was thinking about that, I realize that sometimes when we call our children to do something, they'll know based on the tone of your voice, if you just need them to come sit with you or if you need them to do something. You ever notice that? And I think we will learn God's tone as we begin to listen to his voice. Sometimes he needs us to urgently move. And sometimes it's pretty much maybe something future or something he's planning. And just maybe it's something to encourage us, But we have to be able to respond in an active listening way. What would you have me to do? And you might say, I just want you to listen. I need you to do this. But your responding actively means that if you don't have a good memory, you might need to write it down or record it into a device so that it doesn't, so you don't forget. You're honoring him when you do that.

20:01 In James 1.22, we're told, do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. Do what it says. This is a key point. Hearing is not enough. We hear God's voice, but don't act on it. We're not fully engaging with the call. Just as Samuel didn't stop at hearing God's voice, we must act upon it, allowing God's message to transform our action, our hearts, and our mindset. When we respond to God's voice with obedience, something profound happens. His word begins to shape our reality. This is how faith and action works together. In Luke 11, 28, Jesus said, blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

20:43 The blessing isn't just about the hearing, it's in the doing. So let's reflect for a moment. What has God spoken to you recently? Are you sitting on it, waiting for more clarity? Are you actively responding? Are you waiting for the right conditions or have you trusted that God's word is enough to move forward? There's one thing about my mom says about me, you know, having been a police officer and having worked in all kinds of weather conditions, whenever I said I'm going to do something, I never look at the weather to determine if I'm going to do it based off the weather. She already know if it's rain and snow and sleet, Unless it's slippery or something really weird happened with the weather that's really unsafe, I would kind of call and cancel.

21:28 But if it's just some weather, snow, weather, a weather event that my car can make it through, whatever I said I'm going to do, I'm going to be there. And that's what we have to kind of trust in God. That no matter, sometimes it's never, ever going to be the right condition for you to trust in God. Sometimes that trusting in God has to happen right that moment, right in that moment. And like I said, I had a real good lesson when I was working this job that was almost going to require me to work about almost 60, 70 hours overtime a week. And I don't think nobody needs to work that much. I really don't. And one thing that the Lord had said to me, he says, what did I tell you to do? What was your assignment?

22:14 And I remember my assignment was this podcast. So if I was going to work these 70 hours a week, there was no way for me to keep track of my podcast. And so I had to, in an emergency situation, just resign from that job and trust God right then that I had, if I needed a job he provided, if he's not going to provide for me, then I'm going to have to trust him in another way. But I knew right then and there that that priority that he gave me was this podcast. And I was not able to keep up with it because of this potential to work 70 hours a week.

22:55 And I was like, Lord, that's not possible. And then he had me and was in the middle of the night, kind of as I was going to the bathroom. He says, what did I tell you to do? And I remember, I can remember because you're half asleep. Trust me, we're humans. And I remember, so what did he tell me to do? And then he gave me the answer, the podcast, Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I also have two. It's called The Morris Perspective. I've given you those podcasts, and that's your priority. Right then and there, I knew that I had to stop working that crazy job. And so sometimes that word, that's that weight of that word, it never stops working in your life when you use faith. So when he tells you one thing, that one thing is something that holds true for everything, right?

23:44 And so I'm just saying, like, if he's told you to do something and you're starting to see that that one thing he told you to do, you're not able to do because maybe work or, you know, maybe you got a boyfriend or something that's keeping you from that, then you have to set your priority on what has God spoken to you? What was that priority? And sometimes you have to go back into your prayer closet, right? Or listen to those quiet times when God wants to talk because He, in that quiet time, will get you back in line. And you don't have to even make a big deal about it. You can just go to that quiet time, have that moment with God in the morning or in the evening or in the middle of the night or during prayer, whenever He speaks to you, and you will find out that that one word from God carries so much weight that it automatically gives you that confidence to get back in line so that you can do what he has told you to do.

24:44 So God doesn't just speak for us to stay still. His voice propels us into action. And when you hear God's voice, take that step. Maybe take that step forward, take that step backwards. It might be a small one or a huge leap of faith, but it's So obedience is the key. I remember I just had to stop working. I gave a four-day notice. I just had to stop right away because I knew I had to get Maid's podcast out, and I couldn't do it in that record time because that schedule was getting ready to cause some problems. I don't know if that's how that works for you, but many times we have to go back to what God originally told us, and that will always be your foundation on what to do next.

25:30 Even when his words are difficult or challenging, remember Deuteronomy 31.8, the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. One of the most beautiful things about God's voice is that he doesn't leave us to figure it out alone. God's word comes with confirmation. He doesn't just speak once and leave us to wonder, did I really hear that? Instead, he confirms his words in different ways, providing peace, clarity, and direction. So many times with me, probably with you, he'll speak to me in the night hour.

26:11 He'll show me something in the scripture, something will happen in life. I'll just have a peace and not even know why there's such a peace. And then a boldness will come, you know, and then I'll know this is the Lord's doing and it's marvelous in my eyes. God gave him a message, a message that would shape his future. But that word wasn't just spoken once. It was confirmed. Samuel didn't just hear, he received. And when he began to see how God's words unfold, the same is true for us today. So God speaks to us in our spirit. So don't listen for an audible voice. You're just a knowing and a knowing that you know. But then what you hear in your spirit, you'll begin to see.

26:57 You'll see him at work. So he speaks and then you see. So when God speaks, he often sends confirmation through his word, through trusted leaders, and even through circumstances. Circumstances seem just to line up. Because we're aligning up with what's happening with, in our spirit, what God has already spoken. I told you his words carry weight. Psalms 119, 105 tells us, your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. God's word doesn't just illuminate the next step. It often sheds light on the whole journey. God speaks and his words carry weight. And I went to the shop and I said, well, this battery is losing, it's losing its battery-ness, right?

27:43 And it won't charge to its fullness. So, I only got like two little, you know, two little charge lights on. And the guy gave me this long story about, you know, need the bike in, Lose Splee and all that stuff. And I'm like, you know, then the Holy Spirit just spoke to me and says. The battery is dead, get a new battery. And then I came back and got my battery because I left it there. And as I was leaving, I was thinking, I should have asked the Lord first before I ran in there and dropped that off. Because the guy, some people, they just talk a lot and then you're like, you didn't even answer my question. So I ended up getting my battery back, got my new battery, plugged it into my bike, and boom, I'm working well.

28:23 Why? Because God's word carries weight. This guy was, I don't know what he was talking about. So when we listened to God's voice, even the battery on my bike was important to him. You know what I'm saying? Even that was important to him. You know, let's keep going. So remember the words of land to my feet and light to my path. You'll be fine. I love God. I love the Holy Ghost. I love you, Jesus. John 14, 26 says, but the advocate, here we go, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. The Holy Spirit serves as our confirmation.

29:05 We look for confirmation, but who's our confirmation? The Holy Spirit. He brings to our minds God's promises and guidance, reinforcing what we hear from Him. So our confirmation comes from the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13.1, every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. God uses confirmation in our lives, whether through His word, prophetic words, or circumstances. he will never leave us doubting his direction. And so when you hear his voice, his words carries weight. So you have the Holy Spirit that's going to confirm it. You have the words that will, his prophetic words or circumstances.

29:49 He's going to, God knows how to confirm his word. And let's look at Hebrews 10, 23. And it says, let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful. God's promises are sure, and he will confirm his word time and time again to show you that his plan for your life is unfolding. So God is not going to lead you astray. So you don't have to worry about missing it. Don't worry about missing it. Just start moving forward with what he tells you to do, right? Just try it. Just try it. Whether it's your first time hearing the podcast or you've been following me for a while or last year or so, just know that when you just step out in faith, God will show up. He will not let you slip.

30:37 He will not let you fall. He will not let you miss him. You see, he called for Samuel three times, so he will keep calling. Till you recognize his voice. It's easy to second guess God's voice when we don't immediately see results or feel his presence. Doubt is a natural response when we're unsure of the path ahead. But one thing I've learned in my own walk with God is that confirmation is a part of his plan. His word will align with scripture. It will be confirmed by trusted mentors and even the world around you will begin to echo his promises. That's so true. When you walk with God, he and you begin to have this relationship with him, even the birds confirms his word, you know, the nature.

31:24 For example, if you've since God's leading you to take a new job or step into a new ministry, he may speak you through a scripture that gives you peace. Then you might hear a sermon about trusting God's timing. And finally, a friend might send you a text with words of encouragement that aligned perfectly with what you've been feeling. That's not a coincidence. That's divine confirmation. As you move forward, be intentional in asking God for confirmation. When you feel His words staring in your heart, ask Him to confirm it through scripture, through trusted voices, and through circumstances. And when you receive that confirmation, act on it with confidence. God is faithful to direct your steps. Now, that's good in the beginning, right? Asking for confirmation, kind of like Gideon.

32:10 But then sometimes you might have to move faster. He might need you to move now. You might have to trust him now. So get in that habit of if it's something that you need to plan and get going with and it's a big deal, go ahead and get your confirmations in order, right? But it's something you have to go now. That job that I said I was going to almost have to work 70 hours a week, I didn't have three weeks to figure out if I want to work 70 hours. I knew right then and there I wasn't going to work 70 hours. And I had to believe God right then and there that I had to leave that job right then. And so there's different moves. Ask him, how should I go? Should I wait for more confirmations, Lord, or should I just go? But he knows exactly what you need to move forward.

32:52 Once you feel comfortable, just do it. Act with confidence. Once you heard God's voice, recognize God. It and receive confirmation, the next step is obedience. You know, we hear God's voice. We may even have the confirmation we need, but then we hesitate. Why? Because faith involves stepping into the unknown. We might have all the checks in a row and we still have to trust God. I remember moving from Michigan to Lincoln, Nebraska with a promise of being a professor for three and a half years, I had to make a decision. Do I rent or do I buy a home based off this three-year, three-and-a-half-year contract?

33:34 And I decided by faith to just buy because renting costs a little bit. For what I was going to rent, I could have bought. And so I was like, I'm just going to trust you, Lord. And confirm some confirmation did come to go ahead and buy. So I did buy. I figured the contract would be extended, but it wasn't. And so I trusted God for the next move. And so I figured, I always say never move for a job because jobs are iffy, but always have a God that's not iffy, right? And then follow him. Because sometimes you have to step into the unknown because sometimes you won't know that. Sometimes you won't have all the answers. And sometimes you're really stuck on having all the answers. You will stay in that same spot.

34:15 So God really gives us the full blueprint at once. I didn't know what was next after teaching. He asked for us to trust Him and to obey Him step by step, knowing that He is the one who goes before us. So sometimes you might ask for too much, but sometimes you just do what you do to be safe. You see how He honored Gideon, and He will honor you the same way. As we mature, and then it's like He starts pulling the rug from under our feet, He wants us to fly and trust Him. You know, let's check out in Matthew 14, 29, when Peter was in the boat and saw Jesus walking on the water, Jesus called him to come.

34:57 Peter didn't have a map or a plan. He didn't know how the water would hold him, but he got out of the boat, stepped onto the water. It was faith in action. God doesn't call us to sit still with what he has revealed to us. He calls us to step out even when the path isn't clear. That's powerful. 2 Corinthians 5, 7 says we live by faith and not by sight. Faith often requires us to move before we see the full picture. We step out in obedience. Trusting that God's word will sustain us. In the same way, by itself, if it's not accomplished, by action is dead. Faith without action is stagnant. God speaks. We must act in alignment with what he's calling us to do.

35:42 In Hebrews 11, it says here, By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place, he would later receive as an inheritance. He obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. God told him to get up that morning and to go, and he went. He didn't even pack a lunch. He was obedient. Abraham's story reminds us that obedience often comes before understanding. Trust the process. Move forward in faith, knowing God will guide your steps. It's easy to want guarantees before making a move. We want clarity, certainty, and all the answers, but faith doesn't work that way. Sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is move forward without knowing the outcome. God doesn't ask us to be perfect.

36:29 He just asks us to trust and obey him. Consider the story of the Israelites in the Red Sea. God told Moses to stretch out his hand. And when he did, the waters parted. But here's the kicker. The sea didn't part until they took that first step. They didn't move forward. And when they moved forward in obedience, the miracle happened. For many of you, God is asking you to take the first step. Even if you don't know what's on the other side, maybe he's calling you to a new job, a new relationship, a ministry role, or a personal change, but you don't have all the answers. You're not meant to. You're meant to trust the one who knows the way. Take one step of faith this week. It could be as simple as calling someone you've been meaning to reach out to, applying for that job you've been thinking about, or deciding to walk away from something that's been holding you back.

37:18 God has already spoken. Now it's your turn to act. Father, thank you for speaking to us and revealing your will. We're grateful for your guidance and your confidence. Help us to step forward in faith, even when we don't have all the answers. Give us the courage to move when you say go. We trust you, Lord, to make our path straight, guard our steps. We know that you are with us every step of the way. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining me at Diary of a Black Woman. With our Faith on Go series. I'm your host, Connie Morris. With this message that stirred your spirit and reminded you that God is always speaking, He is inviting you to respond. And as we learned today, God's voice carries weight, purpose, and power.

38:02 And when He speaks, it's not just for information, it's for transformation. The challenge is not whether God is talking, but how will we respond. As you go through your week, listen for His whispers, receive His guidance, and respond with obedience. Don't miss your moment. Move forward in faith, trust his timing, and watch as he opened doors you didn't even know exist. If this episode resonates with you, I encourage you to share with someone who needs to hear this message. Leave a review and follow us on all the social media podcasts. I'm on everything. I'm coming live to Twitch coming in September.

38:43 I'll keep you posted on that. And let us know how God is speaking to you. We'll always visit us on our website. There will be some updated devotionals for July on Diary of Black Women LLC for more resources, upcoming episodes, and all the things related to our mission to empower women in faith. Remember, God is speaking. Are you listening? Stay alert. Stay obedient. Until next time, keep walking in faith. As we close this episode of the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, we declare the word of the Lord from Jeremiah 29-11. I speak this over every listener. You will rise again. You will recover what was lost.

39:24 And you will walk boldly into what God has prepared. With no shame, no fear, and no apology. May every broken place become a place of breakthrough. May every delay become divine preparation. And may the fire of God stir up every gift lying dormant within you. This is more than a podcast. This is a call to arms. We're not just healing. We're rising. We're not just telling stories. We're building an army of women walking in truth, in power, and in purpose. This has been the Diary of a Black Woman podcast with your host, Connie Morris. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone God is calling higher.

40:08 Visit www.diaryofablackwomanllc.com to stay connected, get resources, and join the movement. And I'll see you on the next episode, because God's not finished, and neither are we. Music.