Now What?

Looking back over certain areas of my life I recognize that in general, the fact of “knowing” what needed to be done to course correct was typically simple enough to determine.

The issue I commonly faced, came down to putting the knowledge into action. This manifests itself clearly in my personal health journey.

When God created me He seemingly left out metabolism and willpower in my construction. Of course, I’m kidding, but perhaps you can relate with my sentiment. For years, gaining and losing weight felt like a never-ending roller coaster of emotions. However, each time I set on a path to course correct, the information I needed to get started hadn’t changed; the actions that I was responsible for did.

Roughly 15 years ago I recognized that I had been riding the roller coaster long enough and it was time to stop making excuses. That moment of clarity helped me lock in on making sound decisions regarding diet and exercise and even more importantly, it challenged me to stop thinking that simply knowing what to do was enough and that true change requires commitment and action.

For me, making the same connection in regards to reading Scripture was game-changing. As we’ve unpacked so far, understanding “What Happened” and “So What” are crucial for spiritual growth. Unfortunately, for far too long I missed the connection of reading God’s Word and applying it to all areas of my life. I found it easy to accomplish this on Sunday at church but the rest of the week there was a massive gap.

The habit of reading Scripture with a final analysis of “Now What?” has been a game changer. No matter where I find myself studying, from the Old to the New Testament, this practice has proven to be impactful. It forces me to stop looking at Scripture as though I were viewing through a set of binoculars and instead shift to examining God’s Word with a mirror.

Having the mirror mindset moves my internal narrative from what’s happening in a given book, chapter, or verse, to instead, how should I respond in the world based on what He reveals to me. Stated another way, when we approach Scripture with a “Now What?” mindset, we move beyond passive consumption to active participation. In both James and Matthew, we see that our foundation is only as strong as the actions we build upon it. Knowledge of God’s Word is vital, but without application, it’s like building on shifting sand.

So, how do we live out this “Now What?” mentality? It starts by asking God to illuminate areas of our lives that need alignment with His Truth. Then, we commit to taking tangible steps of obedience, no matter how small they may seem. Whether it’s forgiving someone who hurt us, serving a neighbor in need, or addressing unhealthy habits, action rooted in God’s Word transforms both our lives and the lives of those around us.

As you reflect on the 3 questions, I pray they open new insights into simplifying and applying God’s Word that aid in your spiritual journey. Pray for the courage to step out in faith, and trust that as you learn, understand, and act, that God will strengthen your foundation and lead you closer to Him. Let’s be doers of the Word, building our lives firmly on the Rock.

Questions to Consider

1. What is one area where God is calling you to move from knowing to doing?
2. What area of life needs better alignment with God’s Word?

Thank You

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