Hearing God’s voice is often something we all pray for. But according to Pastor Landon Schott, hearing is only the first step. The greater challenge—and the place where spiritual growth truly happens—is choosing to obey.
In a recent message, Schott unpacked the “journey of faith,” the often difficult process that takes us from hearing God’s direction to walking it out. Drawing from Scripture and his own testimony of planting Mercy Culture Church, he encouraged Christians not to fear the process but to embrace it.
“When you hear God and obey God, everything begins to change.”
Schott acknowledged that while hearing and obeying sounds simple, the space between the two can involve prayer, waiting, testing and sacrifice.
“There is a process. There is a journey between hearing and obeying God. And most people don’t make it through that journey…it’s the journey of faith.”
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Spiritual Maturity Is Measured by Obedience
Schott pointed to Jesus’ teaching that those who hear God’s words and put them into practice are like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. From that, he argued that simply hearing God’s voice is not enough.
“It doesn’t even matter if you hear God if you don’t obey Him.”
He challenged believers to reconsider what spiritual maturity really looks like.
“Spiritual maturity is when you go from, ‘God told me,’ to, ‘I obeyed what God told me.'”
According to Schott, many Christians don’t struggle because God isn’t speaking. Instead, they struggle with taking the next step once they believe He has.
The Journey Between Hearing and Obeying
Using his own experience of planting Mercy Culture Church, Schott explained that God’s direction often unfolds through a series of intentional steps rather than one immediate decision.
The first stage is becoming aware that God may be leading in a particular direction.
“You start hearing, you start sensing, you start feeling the Spirit of God, the will of God.”
From there, he encouraged believers to lean into God’s heart through prayer, fasting, Scripture and wise counsel rather than rushing ahead.
Eventually comes the point where uncertainty gives way to conviction.
“Don’t fall into the trap where you want it to be God, you hope it’s God, you think it’s God. You have to know it’s God.”
Schott said that confidence becomes essential because opposition often follows obedience.
“The enemy is going to come to attack your faith. He comes with doubt. He comes with fear. He comes with insecurity.”
When those moments arrive, he said believers need the confidence to stand firm.
“You’re going to need a ‘God said’ in your spirit… You’re going to have to learn how to respond, ‘God already told me.'”
Unity and Wisdom Matter
Schott also emphasized that obedience is not meant to happen in isolation. Before making major life decisions, he encouraged believers to pursue unity with spouses, trusted leaders and those providing spiritual oversight.
Reflecting on his own journey, he shared that he waited until his wife, Heather, independently sensed God’s leading before they moved forward with planting their church.
He also warned against confusing faith with impulsiveness.
Even after believing God had spoken, Schott said strategy, timing and wisdom still mattered.
“God might tell you to do something, but He doesn’t tell you exactly how to do it. Sometimes He doesn’t tell you when to do it.”
He noted that even Joshua, after receiving God’s promises, still developed battle strategies rather than assuming victory required no planning.
When God Speaks, Go All In
Once believers have prayed, sought confirmation, pursued unity and prepared wisely, Schott encouraged them to obey wholeheartedly.
He recalled leaving a successful traveling ministry, giving up income and selling his family’s home as they launched Mercy Culture Church.
“If God wants me to do it, I’m going to risk my life. I’m going to risk my reputation. I’m going to do whatever it takes.”
Wholehearted obedience means refusing to hold anything back.
“When you hear God and you’re obeying God, you have to give your all. You can’t do it halfway.”
Faith Is a Lifelong Journey
Schott concluded by encouraging believers to keep walking the same pattern throughout life: hear God, obey Him, and then repeat the process as God continues to lead.
“If you want to keep spiritually growing, stay in the journey of faith. Keep hearing God. Keep obeying God.”
Rather than presenting obedience as a burden, Schott described it as the pathway through which God shapes faith, deepens trust and accomplishes His purposes over time. His message serves as an encouragement that while the journey between hearing and obeying may require patience and sacrifice, God remains faithful to guide those who seek Him with willing hearts.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
