Yesterday we read about doing what God is asking of us, even when we can't see how it'll make a difference. Paul sets a really good example when it comes to this (see Acts 27:9-21). The crew on board the ship, on the other hand, show us the importance of considering what God may be saying to us through others.

The officer in charge of the ship ignored Paul's warnings because: (1) Paul was a prisoner and seen as an untrustworthy source; and (2) The ship's owner and pilot were experts when it came to sailing. It seems completely logical, when looked at from their perspective, to carry on with the voyage and disregard non-sailor Paul's warnings. Thank goodness that Paul knew God's voice and continued to trust him in the storm.

How many times have we felt inadequate to share our faith because we think the person we're speaking to is more intelligent than us, and/or we're afraid we won't be able to show God to them? It's easier to listen to the voices that say we can't or that we're wrong than it is to listen to our church leaders or Christian friends telling us we can. Waiting on God is more than hearing God speaking directly to our heart/mind/ears; it's also trusting that we can hear God when he speaks through others. Let's be more open to that possibility.

So what now? Ask one of your Christian friends to pray for you, out loud. Listen for what God might be saying to you through their prayer.

In Acts 27, Paul was a prisoner on board a ship headed to Rome. At a stop on the journey, God asked Paul to do something incredibly brave: tell the crew not to leave the harbour because there was going to be a terrible storm. Now remember, Paul was their prisoner, so he suspected the crew wouldn't listen to him. He told them and they did ignore him, so off they went into the heart of the storm and (surprise surprise), they ended up shipwrecked.

Paul didn't know what was coming or what would happen if he listened to God. The crew could've done anything; he was completely at their mercy. However, he obeyed God's words, they came true and this led him to a place where he was able to encourage his captors. In Acts 27:21-22 NIV Paul says, 'Men, you should have taken my advice...but now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.'

Paul could've lost hope when the crew ignored him, but instead he waited on God as he continued to move in the situation. Psalm 37:34 GWT says, 'Wait with hope for the Lord, and follow his path, and he will honour you.' God revealed himself to the crew through Paul's obedience, even though Paul didn't know what was coming or what to expect.

So what now? Despite your personal circumstances, take action. Pray lots, then go with what you think God's saying to you. Watch him guide you.

Jesus was a huge giver: he healed, encouraged, lifted up. In fact, he gave his life for all humanity. He is our best example of giving freely, abundantly and joyfully. We're not asked to give so we can tick boxes on a list of spiritual acts nor should we give out of guilt or powerlessness. We're to give so we can be a blessing to people. Giving is sacrificial. It can be difficult to do, but when we give of our time, energy and finances, other people are benefitted by receiving. It's not about our efforts; it's about others' needs.

And, giving is something we should be practising now, in response to God's direction. We can't wait until we're in that better job or that bigger house to give extravagantly. If we desire to be more generous, we must allow God to grow our generosity today.

God will change our heart as we act sacrificially, choosing to give, even though it may be inconvenient, awkward or painful. Sometimes the number of needs can seem overwhelming but, as we follow God's guidance and our passions, we will see our giving make a huge difference in others' lives.

So what now? Our time can be the hardest thing to give away. So let's start with that. Set aside a specific amount of time (ask God for his guidance) to do something for someone else in the next 24 hours.

Fast food outlets, superfast broadband, self-service checkouts, credit cards. Do we have to wait for anything anymore? Sometimes, when we're so used to getting things quickly, it's a shock when God expects us to wait for something. The Bible shows us that impatience and independence aren't just signs of our culture; they're a sign of parts of our nature that we haven't yet given to God.

Look at Abraham and Sarah (see Genesis 16): despite God's promise that she would have a child, Sarah focused on circumstances and took things into her own hands to provide Abraham with a son. God still fulfilled his promise, giving her Isaac, but that meant Abraham then had two sons and a lot of trouble on his hands. What if Sarah had remembered that God's promise would be fulfilled by his actions and in his timing? Now, we're not saying it's easy. But when we're overwhelmed by responsibilities or by waiting for God's intervention, it's a relief to know that the work doesn't have to be ours. It's God's and he'll work through us to finish it.

Of course, God won't move our hands and feet without any effort from us, but our efforts are only worth it if he's been invited into them. He's actually been at work in us our whole lives, whether we've known it or not.

So what now? Got a project or task that you've not yet finished? Put aside time today to make more progress. And remember: '[God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion' (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

How do we make sure our faith and relationship with God stay strong? Read our Bibles and pray. Tick. But, how do we make sure, as we read and pray, that we're 'trusting-in-the-Lord-and-not-leaning-our-own-understanding' (see Proverbs 3:5)?

Here are some ideas: (1) Go to a good church. Christian friends and mentors (should) love us unconditionally and remind us of God working in our lives. Serving develops our gifts and reminds us of God's love for people. (2) Chat. We don't have to become super extrovert. We're just talking about talking, with God and people about where we're at. God will never abandon us (see Deuteronomy 31:6) and wants to do amazing things through us. 'Chatting' really helps in dry faith patches. (3) Don't live in the past. From our worst exam to the time we really upset someone, failure hurts. But God wants to show us how to rise from it and help others do the same. If we give our past to God (no matter how painful it is), he'll take it and turn it for good in ways we couldn't have without him.

So what now? Ready to walk fully with God? Let him know your fears and plans and tell him you're ready to follow him 100%. Scary? Yes. But most importantly, first... 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding' (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

We know that God speaks to us in many ways: directly through his voice or our thoughts, through others or through the Bible. But the next vital step to hearing God is obeying him; actually doing what we have heard him say. It can be hard to put what God asks into practice, especially when we're bombarded by the relentless stuff that life brings. But, it's clear...James 1:22 GWT says: 'Do what God's word says. Don't merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.'

A great way to help us keep obedient is to keep track of it - through a prayer journal, or a list of 'God notes', or audio messages to ourselves. Let's record what we think God says to us, whether it's a specific message for our life, or a general Bible verse that applies right now. Then let's pray for the inspiration, strength, courage and opportunity to do it.

And, let's celebrate our journey of obedience, through a record (written or mental) - of when we showed kindness or mercy when we would rather have not, or when we rejected a usual temptation, or considered something from God's perspective instead of our own.

So what now? Get yourself a journal or planner. Spend time praying. Write down what you think God is saying to you. You are well able to be obedient, because he is always with you anyway, cheering you on.