Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Do the Next Thing

Are you overwhelmed?  Do you think you have too much to do?  You may be thinking - "Surely God wants me to give up something I am doing."  That has been my thinking for months and I have been asking God for direction.  I was convinced that He wanted me to give up at least one of my responsibilities, but I did not get clear direction of what it was to be.  In November, I wrote in my Prayer Journal - "Lord, I will continue doing what I am doing right now until I hear from You."  This was what I knew the Lord was saying to me at that time.  I continued to pray for Him to show me what I was to give up.

Lately, everywhere I turn, I keep getting the same message - "Do what is in front of you right now."  I received this same answer back in November.  I guess I wanted to know what God wanted me to do this summer, this fall, etc.  He had a different plan - keep on doing what you are doing until you hear from me.  I trust He will give me what I need to keep on keeping on.

Priscilla Shirer shared the following quote from Elisabeth Eliot in Priscilla's Bible study, Discerning the Voice of God:  "One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was 'Do the next thing.' ''

The Israelite elders told Moses to "Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says.  Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you.  We will listen and obey." (Deuteronomy 5:27)  The Israelites were afraid to hear from the Lord directly, but we can "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16) because Jesus opened the way through His death, burial, and resurrection.  God desires the same thing from us as He did the Israelites - "listen and obey."

We need to listen to what God is saying to us and obey.  Maybe He is telling you to give up something, but if not, just "Do the next thing."

4 comments:

  1. Love this litte poem anytime I am feeling overwhelmed by so much to do:
    I am so busy, Lord;
    there is so much to do.
    Can all these busy things be from You?
    Delete your agenda;
    let your soul be still.
    There's always enough time to do My will!

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  2. Kay,
    Thanks for this one. I so need it right now. I too have been over whelmed with trying to work a bit during the tax season and finding I am not sure how I worked full time before I stopped to stay home and take care of things. Love in Christ, Jean

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  3. Needed this devotional today! Sometimes I don't know if it is harder to listen or to obey, but I realize we must have a balance of both in our life. So right now I will "Do the next thing."
    Praise God! Pat

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  4. This is so you, the "next thing". Think I will apply this to my life from here on. God knows how much and what He wants us to do, our job is to listen and obey. So for today and the rest of my days, it's listen and obey and do the "next thing".
    Miss you a lot but love keeping up on your blog.

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