Pray, Then Act

Ever been in a sleeper sermon before? You know the kind – it starts out good enough, but there’s nothing in the message to necessarily write home about. Then, POW! The preacher ends with a home run clincher that goes straight to the heart and soul.

Well, I experienced a sleeper sermon this past week. Toward the end of a good-but-uneventful message, the preacher asked a few simple questions:

“How do you make decisions? Is it out of fear, comparison, or obedience? What is your motivation?”

He gave a simple analogy with school. Do you send your child to public school because you don’t want them to feel different, or because you're comparing them to others? Is it fear they’ll miss out on friendships or community? Do you choose Christian school because you’re afraid of what could happen in public school? Or maybe you’re comparing yourself to other parents who homeschool and feel like you should?

Or—have you prayed? Have you invited the Lord to lead you? And are you willing to listen to those Holy Spirit nudges, even in the face of fear and comparison? Or if He calls you to go in a different direction than you would like?

Ouch.

While my school choice days are long behind me now, the implications for my life were immediately clear. As in, it felt like the Holy Spirit was saying, “Yes, Barb. This is directly for you. Are you listening, child?”

See, I’ve been sitting in a lot of fear and comparison lately. Fear over all the changes this summer—new house, new community, newly empty nest. The fixer-upper we bought is beautiful, but the scope of what needs done feels... daunting. And for some reason, that’s stirred up old feelings of inadequacy as I compare my never-neatly-fitting situation to those around me.

My life has so rarely been straightforward. Yet I so crave straightforward. And this summer has felt like anything but.

Still, there’s one very important step my hubby and I took before undertaking this move: We prayed.

A lot.

We prayed through where God would want us, what kind of community fit the things we felt led to. We asked Him to open the right doors—His doors, not ours. And He did. So many crazy doors swung open for this home that there’s no denying it was a gift from the Lord.

Yet here I am, not trusting Him to provide for the very home He placed us in. Wallowing in fear and sadness as my last one permanently leaves this new nest for her first real career. Comparing myself to others and coming up short.

Can you relate?

You tried to make the godly choice. God shows up and makes your path clear. But then as you start walking the road, you start second-guessing and doubting yourself.

Ugh.

Here’s what I took away from that sermon—three simple but powerful truths:

One: Pray, pray, and pray some more.

If God leads the choice, He’s not going to leave me hanging. “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5). When fear is calling for my attention and comparison is whispering my name, I can lean into that truth.

“God works all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). I can choose to rest in that and invite back in the Holy Spirit’s perfect, circumstance-defying peace.

Two: If you haven’t prayed, it’s never too late to start.

I’ve definitely made decisions and run ahead of God, hoping He’d come along for the ride. Sometimes those decisions were even for God—in His name! But were they what He actually asked of me? Or were they just what I wanted?

And yet, even in the mess, Romans 8:28 still applies. God can redeem it. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 61:3:

“God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, To anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, To wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness. People will call them magnificent, like great towering trees standing for what is right. They stand to the glory of the Eternal who planted them.”

No matter how messy I find myself, God knows how to take the ashes and build something beautiful. For His glory.

Three: Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

God deeply cares about how I live. He calls me to walk in step with Him—obediently choosing to trust His ways over culture, politics, my own reasoning, or even religion.

Trusting His plan isn’t just a thought. It’s an action. A daily, sometimes moment-by-moment decision to quiet the noise and listen for His voice.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” He shared that while His people were in exile—because they kept going with the culture instead of with God.

Yet even in exile, He promised to bring them out of captivity. His ways are still best. But our motives matter. And it takes trust—real, honest, hand-in-His-hand kind of trust.

So, I’m reminded once again: Pray, then act.

Because God? He is always trustworthy.

And when I forget (and I will), I can repent, surrender, and ask Him to take the reins again—even if it means a course correction. After all, what’s the point of faith if I’m not willing to let Him lead?

That sleeper sermon?

It woke me right up.

And I walked out with rekindled peace and hope.

Yes, God is good.

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT: One of the most helpful things I’ve learned is to resist sitting through a sermon thinking of the twenty other people it could help. Instead, I try to find just one golden nugget I can apply to myself and meditate on throughout the week. It keeps me in a place of thoughtful humility and spiritual growth.

I believe the Holy Spirit is always speaking. It’s that verse that grabs your heart, the billboard that hits just right, or the words someone says without even knowing what you’re walking through—and yet it cuts deep.

John 16:13 reminds us, “The Spirit will guide you into all truth.”

So this week, pray and listen. Stay open. Keep your eyes peeled and your heart soft to the ways God is moving. Then choose to walk in obedience—not fear or comparison.

And when you do? Peace has a way of finding you right where you are.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust You with my decisions and release fear and comparison into Your hands. Remind me to seek You first and listen for Your leading, even when the path feels uncertain. Teach me to walk in obedience, knowing You are always faithful. I am so thankful for Your goodness and mercy. Help me to walk wise, holding your hand along my life's path. In Jesus' name, Amen.

ABOUT BARB LOWNSBURY

Barb is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in International History and Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education. Barb has spoken at conferences and taught classes throughout the U.S. on topics including faith, relationships, leadership, and courage through trials. Her book, Using What’s Broken to Boldly Shine, is a powerful read on transformation through adversity. Her blog focuses on providing people with everyday encouragement and strength. Barb serves as the Executive Director for The Dented Fender Ministry and runs a successful real estate and development company. She and her husband currently reside in Dayton, Ohio.

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