Learning to Do Exactly What God Tells Me to Do

“Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” Genesis 7:5 (NIV)

Noah didn’t just hear God’s Word; he acted on it. He lived life according to God’s will.

Am I doing that? Do I ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do today? What do you want me to do in this meeting? What do you want me to do with this opportunity?” Noah always sought God’s guidance in his actions.

If I lived in Noah’s time and God asked me to build an ark. I'm sure I'd have some big questions. Here are four:

What’s a flood? The Bible says it had never rained before Noah’s time. Genesis 2 explains that God watered the earth from below, like morning dew. When God told Noah about a flood, it was a completely unimaginable concept.

How do you build an ark? In those days, there were no hardware stores or home depots. Noah had to cut and prepare every single piece of timber himself. That’s why it took decades to build the ark.

How do you move a massive ark to water? Noah lived far from the ocean. The Bible says the flood came not just from rain but also from underground springs bursting forth. The waters rose long after the rain stopped, solving the problem of moving the ark.

How do you gather all the animals? If God created the universe, bringing animals to Noah wasn’t a challenge. The real miracle was Noah’s obedience. Genesis 7:5 says, “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him” (NIV).

What can I learn from Noah? God blesses obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense. Faith means trusting God when I don’t fully understand his plan. In life, I’ll face tempting shortcuts, especially during long periods of waiting or discouragement. Noah waited 120 years to see God’s plan fulfilled. His persistence reminds us that God’s timing is perfect. Don’t take shortcuts—trust and obey him completely.

“[Noah] obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family” (Hebrews 11:7 NCV). God honors unwavering faith and total obedience. When I follow his commands without compromise, he will bless me beyond my imagination.

In summary:

For me, this passage encourages living with a heart of obedience to God, even when His plans don’t fully make sense or when the path ahead seems uncertain. It challenges me to ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do today?” and to seek His guidance in every decision, big or small.

Just like Noah, I will face situations where God’s instructions seem difficult or unclear. But the message here is that God honors unwavering faith and obedience. Even if I don’t understand the full picture, trusting in His timing and following His lead without taking shortcuts is key.

In my own life, it might mean persevering through challenges or long waits, trusting that God’s plan is bigger and better than what I can see in the moment. When I choose to obey, even when it’s tough or doesn’t make sense, God will bless me in ways I can’t imagine.