Three challenging questions
My daughter and I were talking recently about what it means to keep growing in our lives and our pursuit of Jesus. We concluded together that none of us should ever stop growing. I’m sure you would agree. No matter our experience, our age, our background, or our faith in Jesus, continued forward steps are mission-critical.
She then asked me this question. “OK Dad, how do you keep growing?” Great question! “Dad, after all of these years, how do you keep growing?” Love it! So, I responded in this way. “Well honey, I’ve succeeded and failed in this part of my life. There is no way I’ve nailed this every day of my life, but here is what has helped.”
We then spent some time on a few of them. However, here was my overarching answer. “Honey, I grow when I read God’s Word and pray daily. I journal (which has been huge in this season of life). I have a group of guys I can reach out to that challenge me, pray for me, and stand with me. I have some teachers that I like to listen to and who inspire me. Your mom always challenges me and loves me. I have received mentoring and spiritual counsel from other leaders.”
That’s what has worked for me over the years. Yours may be different.
With that in mind, I want to share with you a few of the questions that I have been asked more recently from the seasoned leaders in my life. These questions have challenged me to rethink some things and have forced me to go deeper in my leadership and my pursuit of Christ.
I share them with you because I hope they challenge you and push you like they pushed me. So, here we go:
1. What do you think God thinks of “you” when He thinks of you? This shoots right to the core of our identity. Do we see ourselves truly as God sees us or do we see ourselves through our titles, accomplishments, failures of even how others see us? Take your time with this one because it’s foundational.
2. What do you like about your humanity? Most of us go negative right away. However, if you are created in the image of God, then your humanity was made by Him. And, if Jesus came and entered the flesh, in part, to show us how to live in our own humanity, then shouldn’t we pay attention to his example? So, let me ask it again but in a different way. “What part of your humanity reflects the beauty of your Creator?“ That is so good!
3. What is your current daily relationship like with the Holy Spirit? There is no better co-author to your daily story than the person of the Holy Spirit. So, are you leaning on Him, listening to Him, and relying on Him or do you just lean into self?
I have followed Jesus since my childhood and have served in ministry for over 32 years, and I can’t ever remember being asked these. Honestly!
Whether you are a dad, a missionary, an entrepreneur, a single mom, a student, or someone who is hoping for what God has for your future, I hope that at least one of these questions challenges you as they challenged me.
~Steve
