NRT (5) decision-making
.
the NEXT RIGHT THING:
Emily P. Freeman
11. Stay in Today
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice & be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24
◘ Psalm 46 invites us to be still & know that he is God.
There's a reason why God invites us to be still first: the stillness makes way for the knowing. It creates space.. [122]
◘ On anxiety:
- I move into the future predicting outcomes, and these outcomes generally don’t turn out okay in my mind.
.. I can't possibly do the next right thing because I've traveled so far into the future that my next right thing is left behind in my imaginary past. / So, where do we go from here? Well, the only place we can go .. We go to now. [123]
* Is the source of my concern & worry happening today?
- No. Set it to one side.
* Is it happening soon? - Yes.
What is the next right step I can take today to prepare?
Let what is true today be true for now.
- What is one next right thing you can do today?
" We come to you as our insides shake with constant activity.
We are distracted & we're making things harder than they need to be.
We aren't sure what big task to tackle next.
Instead of carrying shame because we can't figure out how to calm this hustle,
we rejoice with confidence that we don't have to undo ourselves.
We don't have to figure out our way back to the light & easy way of Jesus
Because You have already made Your way to us.
We have Your Spirit living within us, which means there's hope for us, after all.
You give us what we need to stay in today.
Like a Good Shepherd, you have prepared the green grass so we can lay right down on it.
You lead us beside still and quiet waters
And you always restore our soul.
You are the patience we need to finish each task, one step at a time.
You invite us.. into each moment to simply do the next right thing in love."
* Practice: Eugene Peterson
~ "we wait for our souls to catch up with our bodies."
This is where you are; this moment is what you have.
You can only be [in] one place at a time. Stay in today.
◘◘ podcast
12. Be Where You Are
.. While staying in today keeps us from rushing into the future, being where we are allows us to admit what's really going on in the present. In order to be where you are, you have to know where you are. [129; 131]
◘◘ podcast
" When I think about the way Jesus lived his life on the earth, Luke 8 comes to mind. When Jairus comes to Jesus and says his daughter is dying and he wants his help. And when Jesus goes into the house, it turns out He’s too late and the young girl had already died.
But Jesus didn’t seem to be in a hurry. He didn’t seem overwhelmed. He didn’t come undone. He did not seem to need to prove himself, impress the crowd, avoid embarrassment, or explain himself.
When Jesus walks into this room, he [takes] just a few of his disciples and the girl's parents there too. He tells her to get up, much like a parent would tell a child to get up in the morning, and she did. He gave orders for something to be given to her to eat. I love that instruction. Because essentially what Jesus said to those parents was this, simply do the next right thing in love. 'Your daughter is alive, now give her lunch.' ... He simply took his next right step with his Father, & he is inviting us to do the same."
Father, help us to know where we are...
Meet us in our weakness, our smallness,
our exhaustion, our insecurity & our questions.
As we move forward in the midst of where we are,
help us to believe you, even though we cannot see you.
May we not demand a spectacle, a miracle or a sign.
May we simply, quietly, be still & know.
Even if we may be busy on the outside,
don't let hurry overwhelm us on the inside.
Remind us to move at a walking pace.
Let your peace rule within us.
Quiet us in the midst of chaos.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
* Practice - Take a walk alone
- Walk without an agenda; listen for what you can hear;
give yourself the gift of being within your everyday space.
13. Don't Rush Clarity
The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
and He delights in his way. /
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong
because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.
- Ps 37: 23-24 NASB
... Kind of like that, but less frantic. More gentle. It’s clear I’m to wait.
It’s not clear as to why. I’ve walked through all the familiar stages of new project things with this idea, the talking, the praying, brainstorming, writing down notes as ideas as they come, paying attention to the world around me and the world within me as it relates to the subject.
But the progress doesn’t seem to come. Sometimes I wonder: Am I just being lazy? Am I being putting something off and procrastinating? Am I scared? Intimidated? Do I just not know how to begin this one?
That’s when the doubting starts to come in, the wondering if maybe this project isn’t to be done after all, maybe I have it all wrong or partially wrong or wrong enough to keep me from moving on it.
When next steps are unclear, doubt is often the most logical conclusion. Maybe I don’t know how to hear God’s voice after all. Maybe all this is just my idea alone.
Many times we’re looking for guidance somewhere out there, a sign, a word, an encouragement, a conversation. And while I know God can speak and will speak in any or maybe all of those ways, the most regular way he speaks to me, I’m learning, is the one I have most often dismissed: Through the voice that comes from within.
The good news is, I’m finally learning to trust that voice.
... Let’s make room for new thoughts to inhabit the deep places in our soul: thoughts of courage, hope, and belief. I’m learning that still, small voice isn’t the voice of age or wisdom or confidence. Those come as a result of listening to the voice, to be sure. But they, themselves, are not the source.
That still, small voice is the voice of God as he is united with me in the deepest part of who I am. He often speaks in such a regular and familiar way that it’s almost too normal to point out.
We look for fireworks or signals or confirmation from somewhere other-than us. It can’t come from us. But he keeps on reminding us that he has made our heart his home. And that’s often the place from where he’ll make his voice heard. [138 - 139]
1 Kings 19: 11 - 12( blogpost)
... It could be you're anxious to make a decision not because it's necessary right now, but simply because it's nagging. This is legitimate & understandable & completely makes sense. But in order to give yourself the space to receive clarity, maybe you need to let go of the expectation that clarity will come in a particular way or at a particular time.
◘ Maybe.. what you need to let go of is your timeline.
... what about the work that grows slowly?
What about the ideas that take years to form? ...
Is this vision strong enough to carry you through the foggy right now? If it's not, are you willing to listen to the still, small voice & believe it's telling the truth?
Can you hold onto your faith while you wait?
◘ Maybe.. what you need to let go of is
your expectation of certainty.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts..
- Proverbs 20:27
.. You have to take slow, measured steps, maybe even block the candle from the wind as you go. So for now, walk slowly with the flame still lit & continue to ask.. Jesus about the next step. If he lives within you then that means He speaks, even now, through his Word, his people, and your own deepest desires as you confess them in his presence. Trust the voice that comes from within. If there’s a longing or a vision growing within you or if you have an idea, a project, or work you can see even though you can’t see it, carry on. Walk slowly. Listen closely. And let that candle burn. [140 - 141]
◘◘ podcast
* Practice - Let go
If you have been searching for clarity that isn't coming, is it time to let go of your timeline? Is this decision necessary to make right now, or are you able to wait?
If it is time to make the decision, let go of your expectation of certainty. You may need to take one next right step before you feel ready. Ask God for guidance & then trust him as you act. Be assured as you move forward that he is with you and continue to talk with him in each new step.
... Previous chapters 8, 9 & 10
the NEXT RIGHT THING:
Emily P. Freeman
11. Stay in Today
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice & be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24
◘ Psalm 46 invites us to be still & know that he is God.
There's a reason why God invites us to be still first: the stillness makes way for the knowing. It creates space.. [122]
◘ On anxiety:
- I move into the future predicting outcomes, and these outcomes generally don’t turn out okay in my mind.
.. I can't possibly do the next right thing because I've traveled so far into the future that my next right thing is left behind in my imaginary past. / So, where do we go from here? Well, the only place we can go .. We go to now. [123]
* Is the source of my concern & worry happening today?
- No. Set it to one side.
* Is it happening soon? - Yes.
What is the next right step I can take today to prepare?
Let what is true today be true for now.
- What is one next right thing you can do today?
" We come to you as our insides shake with constant activity.
We are distracted & we're making things harder than they need to be.
We aren't sure what big task to tackle next.
Instead of carrying shame because we can't figure out how to calm this hustle,
we rejoice with confidence that we don't have to undo ourselves.
We don't have to figure out our way back to the light & easy way of Jesus
Because You have already made Your way to us.
We have Your Spirit living within us, which means there's hope for us, after all.
You give us what we need to stay in today.
Like a Good Shepherd, you have prepared the green grass so we can lay right down on it.
You lead us beside still and quiet waters
And you always restore our soul.
You are the patience we need to finish each task, one step at a time.
You invite us.. into each moment to simply do the next right thing in love."
* Practice: Eugene Peterson
~ "we wait for our souls to catch up with our bodies."
This is where you are; this moment is what you have.
You can only be [in] one place at a time. Stay in today.
◘◘ podcast
12. Be Where You Are
.. While staying in today keeps us from rushing into the future, being where we are allows us to admit what's really going on in the present. In order to be where you are, you have to know where you are. [129; 131]
◘◘ podcast
" When I think about the way Jesus lived his life on the earth, Luke 8 comes to mind. When Jairus comes to Jesus and says his daughter is dying and he wants his help. And when Jesus goes into the house, it turns out He’s too late and the young girl had already died.
But Jesus didn’t seem to be in a hurry. He didn’t seem overwhelmed. He didn’t come undone. He did not seem to need to prove himself, impress the crowd, avoid embarrassment, or explain himself.
When Jesus walks into this room, he [takes] just a few of his disciples and the girl's parents there too. He tells her to get up, much like a parent would tell a child to get up in the morning, and she did. He gave orders for something to be given to her to eat. I love that instruction. Because essentially what Jesus said to those parents was this, simply do the next right thing in love. 'Your daughter is alive, now give her lunch.' ... He simply took his next right step with his Father, & he is inviting us to do the same."
Father, help us to know where we are...
Meet us in our weakness, our smallness,
our exhaustion, our insecurity & our questions.
As we move forward in the midst of where we are,
help us to believe you, even though we cannot see you.
May we not demand a spectacle, a miracle or a sign.
May we simply, quietly, be still & know.
Even if we may be busy on the outside,
don't let hurry overwhelm us on the inside.
Remind us to move at a walking pace.
Let your peace rule within us.
Quiet us in the midst of chaos.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
* Practice - Take a walk alone
- Walk without an agenda; listen for what you can hear;
give yourself the gift of being within your everyday space.
13. Don't Rush Clarity
The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
and He delights in his way. /
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong
because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.
- Ps 37: 23-24 NASB
... Kind of like that, but less frantic. More gentle. It’s clear I’m to wait.
It’s not clear as to why. I’ve walked through all the familiar stages of new project things with this idea, the talking, the praying, brainstorming, writing down notes as ideas as they come, paying attention to the world around me and the world within me as it relates to the subject.
But the progress doesn’t seem to come. Sometimes I wonder: Am I just being lazy? Am I being putting something off and procrastinating? Am I scared? Intimidated? Do I just not know how to begin this one?
That’s when the doubting starts to come in, the wondering if maybe this project isn’t to be done after all, maybe I have it all wrong or partially wrong or wrong enough to keep me from moving on it.
When next steps are unclear, doubt is often the most logical conclusion. Maybe I don’t know how to hear God’s voice after all. Maybe all this is just my idea alone.
Many times we’re looking for guidance somewhere out there, a sign, a word, an encouragement, a conversation. And while I know God can speak and will speak in any or maybe all of those ways, the most regular way he speaks to me, I’m learning, is the one I have most often dismissed: Through the voice that comes from within.
The good news is, I’m finally learning to trust that voice.
... Let’s make room for new thoughts to inhabit the deep places in our soul: thoughts of courage, hope, and belief. I’m learning that still, small voice isn’t the voice of age or wisdom or confidence. Those come as a result of listening to the voice, to be sure. But they, themselves, are not the source.
That still, small voice is the voice of God as he is united with me in the deepest part of who I am. He often speaks in such a regular and familiar way that it’s almost too normal to point out.
We look for fireworks or signals or confirmation from somewhere other-than us. It can’t come from us. But he keeps on reminding us that he has made our heart his home. And that’s often the place from where he’ll make his voice heard. [138 - 139]
1 Kings 19: 11 - 12( blogpost)
... It could be you're anxious to make a decision not because it's necessary right now, but simply because it's nagging. This is legitimate & understandable & completely makes sense. But in order to give yourself the space to receive clarity, maybe you need to let go of the expectation that clarity will come in a particular way or at a particular time.
◘ Maybe.. what you need to let go of is your timeline.
... what about the work that grows slowly?
What about the ideas that take years to form? ...
Is this vision strong enough to carry you through the foggy right now? If it's not, are you willing to listen to the still, small voice & believe it's telling the truth?
Can you hold onto your faith while you wait?
◘ Maybe.. what you need to let go of is
your expectation of certainty.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts..
- Proverbs 20:27
.. You have to take slow, measured steps, maybe even block the candle from the wind as you go. So for now, walk slowly with the flame still lit & continue to ask.. Jesus about the next step. If he lives within you then that means He speaks, even now, through his Word, his people, and your own deepest desires as you confess them in his presence. Trust the voice that comes from within. If there’s a longing or a vision growing within you or if you have an idea, a project, or work you can see even though you can’t see it, carry on. Walk slowly. Listen closely. And let that candle burn. [140 - 141]
◘◘ podcast
* Practice - Let go
If you have been searching for clarity that isn't coming, is it time to let go of your timeline? Is this decision necessary to make right now, or are you able to wait?
If it is time to make the decision, let go of your expectation of certainty. You may need to take one next right step before you feel ready. Ask God for guidance & then trust him as you act. Be assured as you move forward that he is with you and continue to talk with him in each new step.
... Previous chapters 8, 9 & 10