Five “What” Questions to Nurture Spiritual Growth

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I believe God loves questions. He planted inside each of us a curiosity and he graciously is willing to receive our questions. He even is generous enough to hear some of the same questions over and over and over again.

I ask questions all the time when talking with God. Of course I don’t always wait for his answer but that is another story. I have slowly learned to accept that mystery of unanswered questions that dominate much of our lives here on earth.

Jesus asked many questions: Why do you worry? What can you give? Why are you afraid? What do you want? Who do you say that I am?

Personally I am fond of the What questions.
The question that asks Where could also be a fun one to explore.
I know the Who – God
I don’t think we are to know When since we aren’t in charge, God is.
I am not sure we will ever know the Why until we are in heaven and maybe not then.

Here are five “what” questions that recently have been surfacing in my prayers, Bible study, and meditations:

1. What does that mean? Any good Lutheran reading this will recognize this classic question that Martin Luther used both in his spiritual journey and in his teaching. A great question to probe deeper into a bible verse or to reflect on a movement within your soul.

2. What if? What if I took this path or what if I didn’t? What is the worst that could happen? Great questions to help in discerning steps in life. This question also helps me gather courage to be a risk taker instead of shying away from opportunities.
3. What are my options? I learned a long time ago the value to this question. Asking this opens the mind to expanded possibilities instead of thinking there is only one way out of a situation. Again another great discernment and problem solving question.
4. Deep down, what do I want and/or what is bothering me? Often the first answer is not the answer. I need to look deeper behind whatever is stirring, calling or disturbing my spirit and beyond the obvious answers.
5. What is the most loving thing to do? I retired from a health care administration job and often the pressures of meetings, phone calls and paper work overwhelmed my schedule. I learned early one though that people were more important than paper. Even when tough not popular decisions loomed, implementing the action with love soften the rough ride for all.

The right question nourishes the spirit. What “what” question is your favorite?

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Comments

  1. blankLeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious says

    Thank you Jean for visiting my blog and leaving your oh so encouraging comment! It just makes my heart leap for joy when I meet another sister in the Lord.

    I am so thankful that God doesn’t mind hearing our questions over and over again. It makes me think of my daughters when they were toddlers asking, Why this and why that over and over at just about everything!! I guess God did put that curiosity inside of us even as adults.

    I guess the question I like to ask God is this: “How and who can I encourage and help today so that you (God) shines through?”

    I haven’t always asked that question during times of trials and some depression. But I learned that when I took my mind off of myself by looking for someone else to help, that is when I realized the key to why God tells us to encourage one another etc…. It’s amazing how it can turn you whole world back to joy!

    Again Jean, it is so nice to meet you. I enjoyed your post and will be returning for more. So sorry that I’m so wordy!!!!

    Lee Ann