What Now, Lord?

by Cheri Strange

If you were to sneak a peek into my prayer journal or listen in on my private “me-sided” conversations with the Lord, like a broken record you would hear me ask, “What now, Lord?’

This is a recurrent question of mine. I’m a woman who needs a plan. A list. A target. Some endpoint in sight. Give me the big picture of where we are headed and point me in the direction of getting there. It’s how I am able to make my “ship” of a family filled with ten people move efficiently while writing, speaking, and serving.

Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, wrote,

“if you do not have a plan, a goal, a direction, a purpose, and a focus, you are not going to accomplish anything for the glory of God.”

Mr. Bright is on to something because most people never set goals (only about 3%). Somehow we are not sure how to discover that plan, rally around a goal, to go in a certain direction, for a determined purpose, with focused energy necessary.

Today, I am here to offer you my best piece of advice for your first step in discovering your purpose and reaching your goals.

Let your work be shown to your servants; and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Pslam 90:16-17

My Best Advice for Discovering Your Purpose

• Pray these verses (Psalm 90;16-17) every day. Make them yours. “Lord, I need to know what you want me to do...” or something along those lines is perfect.
• Read your Bible every day. Get on a schedule. Don’t worry about checking every box yet. Just get in the habit.
• Keep a list of the ideas and thoughts that come to you related to any of those things as you pray and read. It could very well be, these are the areas in which He wants you involved.
• Keep praying and seeking until you have an answer.

This is where my goals and plans originate. There is nothing magical about how I am able to get things done effectively. I get tired just like you and I do all my own housework. I simply ask, “What now, Lord?” on a recurrent basis. And He answers me.  Without this disciplined listening and hearing, I would not be able to reach my goals or like Mr. Bright attests, “accomplish anything for the glory of God.”

If you have a best idea for goal setting – post it below.

And thanks for stopping by.

For His Glory,

Have you discovered Cheri on YouVersion where she has TWENTY different reading plans for you to choose from, such as:

Be sure to check out the Stirring Faith Podcast, where you will find encouraging episodes like this one:

You can meet Cheri on the She Yearns blog for more truth-saturated, Gospel-centered encouragement like this: