God Prompts (Mary’s Prayer) | Steven Furtick | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

God Prompts (Mary’s Prayer)

Elevation Church • Dec 14, 2025 • 44 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Steven Furtick explores the posture of true prayer through Mary's example at the wedding in Cana and her declaration to the angel. While believers often treat God like a digital assistant by inputting promptings based on personal preferences, true faith recognizes that God is both our generous Provider and active Prompter. When we shift from trying to dictate terms to listening for His direction and obeying His simple promptings, God expands small acts of obedience into extraordinary spiritual impact.

Themes

Prayer and Divine DirectionGod as Provider and PrompterObedience in Small BeginningsSurrender to God's WillGenerosity and Stewardship

Key Points

1.
God functions both as our loving Father who provides for us and our sovereign Lord who prompts us.
2.
Believers often treat God like ChatGPT on a phone—inputting prompts based on personal preferences—rather than actively listening to His direction as Father.
3.
Mary’s true prayer at Cana was not demanding Jesus to work on her terms, but instructing the servants to "do whatever He tells you."
4.
God can provide anywhere and through anyone, whether using ravens in the wilderness or a simple encounter in a restaurant.
5.
When God prompts a believer to step out, He often starts with a small, simple request that carries a massive divine purpose.
6.
Remaining faithful and patient with small beginnings allows God to multiply simple acts of obedience into widespread spiritual impact.
7.
Complete surrender requires moving from asking God to fulfill our personal plans to declaring, "May Your word to me be fulfilled."

Sermon Moments

“God is not your phone. He is your Father. You don't give the commands; He does.”

“Mary's prayer wasn’t 'Jesus, do whatever I tell you.' It was 'Do whatever He tells you.'”

“When God prompts you with something, He will give you a small prompt with a big purpose.”

“When you do what you can do, God will do what you cannot do.”

“We treat God like ChatGPT on our phone, prompting Him according to our preferences instead of letting Him prompt us.”

“God can do it anywhere, and He can do it through anyone.”

This Week

Stop treating prayer like inputting prompts to satisfy personal preferences, and instead ask God, "What are You prompting me to do today?"

Respond immediately when you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to be generous, encourage someone, or serve without delay.

Faithfully cultivate small assignments—such as leading a small group or serving locally—trusting God with the ultimate outcome.

Surrender your personal timelines and preferences to God, praying Mary's prayer: "May Your word to me be fulfilled."

View God as a loving, providing Father who delights in caring for you, rather than as an automated source of answers.

Practice generous stewardship with your finances and resources, acknowledging God as the source of everything you have.

Select a focal word for the upcoming season to anchor your faith in God's promises and direction.

Remember This

Instead of trying to instruct God with our personal preferences, true faith listens for His promptings and commits to doing whatever He tells us.

A Challenge for You

Do whatever He tells you to do, and get ready, because when you do what you can do, God will do what you cannot do.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.