Three Questions to Keep Us Focused on God’s Path
by Tracie Miles
Frustration set in. I knew God called me to a ministry in writing, however, it didn’t look the way I imagined. I believed my platform would be bigger by now and honestly thought I would have a published book. Instead, my platform was growing at a snail’s pace, and the book proposal was gathering dust after being told: “We like it, but you need a bigger platform.” Doubt, discouragement and frustration rang throughout my mind.
Friend, have you been there? Did you expect that once you said yes to God’s call on your life, you would immediately have a large following and publishing opportunities presenting themselves quickly?
If so, you aren’t the only one. I’ve been there, and I dare guess many others have felt just like us.
In my moment of frustration, God gently spoke a word to my heart that I want to share with you today. He reminded me that He has a plan for me. God wants me to prosper and desires hope and a future for me (Jeremiah 29:11), but I need to trust Him and not lean on my plans (Proverbs 3:5,6). Instead, I must run the race He marked out for me by fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).
But how do we stay focused on God’s path and direction? We ask three questions and allow God to direct each next assignment.
- Lord, what is Your assignment for me today?
How specifically do You want me to serve You today? Do You want me focused on a writing project, or do You want me specifically focused on the people You place before me? Once we sense His direction, we must commit that whatever His task is for the day, we will work at it with all our might.
- What is God teaching me in this assignment?
If we look for it, we can see God leading us in each task He gives. We need to ask Him to reveal what life or ministry lesson He is teaching us.
- How can I glorify God in this assignment?
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” No matter what we do daily — housework, completing a project for work or ministry work — we can bring glory to God in our actions and our behavior. With each assignment we need to ask God, “How can I glorify You?”
God has called each of us to reach others for Him. For some, it may be on a large platform. But for others of us, it may be ministering to the ones He has placed within our circle of influence. Whether big or small, we must fix “… our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a). When we fix our eyes on God’s path for our ministries, He will complete the good work He began in us. (Philippians 1:6)
By Mary Boswell, COMPEL Training member
Tracie Miles
Tracie Miles has been the Director of COMPEL Training at Proverbs 31 Ministries since January 2017, and has been volunteering on the speaker and writer teams for Proverbs 31 since 2007. Tracie is an author coach who works one on one with writers of all levels to help them pursue their writing dreams, and can be found at www.traciemiles.com. She is the author of seven bestselling books, including Living Unbroken, Love Life Again, Unsinkable Faith, Stress Less Living and Your Life Still Counts, and has a new book releasing July 2024 called God's Got You: Embracing New Beginnings With Courage and Confidence. She is also the founder of the national Living Unbroken Divorce Recovery Program, a 7 week study series to help women heal and recover together. Tracie has three grown children, two of whom are married, and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can connect with Tracie on her website at www.traciemiles.com as well as on Facebook and Instagram.
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Thanks for that encouragement Mary!