Blessed are those who keep the Lord’s statutes and seek Him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow His ways… Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! (Psalm 119:1-5 excerpt)
We introduced the “Do the Next Thing” poem by Minnie Paull in a previous post: Do the Next Thing: Elisabeth Elliot. You can also read: Following Christ with the Next Right Step (Part 1)
Follow the Leader
Anne Graham Lotz and her husband, Danny 1937–2015, used to attend football games at the University of North Carolina. Thousands of people filled the stadium, and Anne could hardly see where she was walking. But Denny was 6’7″, and he could look over the crowd, so Anne held his hand and followed closely.
Anne seeks to do the same in following the Lord Jesus. She says, “I just try to obey Christ step by step and day by day faithfully. Years from now, I want to look back and know that to the best of my ability I have been serving God in my life.”1
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. (1 Peter 2:21 NLT)
More from the Poem
Missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot used Minnie Paull’s poem for herself and in helping others. Let’s look at Stanza #3.
Do it immediately. Do it with prayer. Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing Christ’s hand. He placed it before you with earnest command.
Rest on His omnipotence, safe beneath His wing. Leave all resultings. DO THE NEXT THING.
We are to practice faithfulness to God in ordinary life because all of life is sacred. Everything we do is to be devoted to God! Scripture says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”2 This includes:
- Asking for forgiveness when we have sinned
- Being patient with difficult people
- Caring for lonely or overlooked folks
- Doing our work diligently (at home, office, community), even when nobody notices
- Encouraging someone who is discouraged
- Forgiving one who has wronged us
- Giving generously from what God has entrusted to us
- Helping someone who needs it, without seeking recognition.
Let’s not get paralyzed by everything we have to do or could do. Just really do one good thing, especially for others. And let’s ask and trust the Lord to bless it, even if we don’t ever see the full outcome. Jesus calls us to “Seek first God’s kingdom above all else, and live righteously.”3 That means doing the next right thing the Lord requires and allows us to do. He is our sovereign, powerful, present, and trustworthy Father who smiles on anything we do to please Him and that lines up with the Bible.
Quick note: I offer many practical suggestions in this post, but don’t get overwhelmed. Pick a few to work on, seeking to maintain an unhurried soul, resting in Jesus, not in what we accomplish. We don’t have to hurry. We only have to be faithful to Christ. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Our life is not ultimately controlled by the clock but by God’s faithful providence.
Do The Next Right Thing Immediately
I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments. (Psalm 119:60)
Remember the rebellious son in Luke 15. He disrespected his father, squandered his inheritance, wasted himself on wild living, and starved because of his foolishness. When he realized his sin and came to his senses, he decided to return to his father, confess his wrong, and take the lowliest job he could get. He didn’t just think or talk about repenting. He hurried to do what was right. He was wholehearted about it, even when he couldn’t predict the outcome.4
Jesus teaches, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only… If you know My teachings, blessed are you if you do them.”5 The Book of Proverbs doesn’t give us a five-year plan. It gives instant action items:
- Speak wisely, gently, and truthfully.
- Associate with wise people and learn from correction.
- Avoid foolish people and don’t copy them.
- Be humble before God and in how you deal with others.
- Avoid pride like the plague.
- Maintain sexual purity and run from temptation.
- Consider the consequences of choices in advance.
- Don’t misuse alcohol or other substances.
- Don’t be a glutton (overeater).
- Be wise about earning, saving, and sharing money.
Charles Spurgeon, J. C. Ryle, Billy Graham, and John Piper all recommend reading one chapter of Proverbs each day and asking: What does this teach me about God? What does this expose about my heart? What is one action step I can and should do today?
Do the Next Right Thing Prayerfully and Reliantly
Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you. He will never let His followers be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
I am not talking about self-help, but about life that relies on God (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and is guided by His Holy Scriptures.
| We are 100% dependent on Christ at all times. | We are to be 100% active for Jesus at all times. |
| He says, Apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) | I can do all things which He has called me to do through Christ who strengthens and empowers me. (Phil 4:13) |
Because we fail and falter often, Psalm 119 contains prayers like these:
Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight… Turn my eyes away from worthless things… In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of Your mouth… Let no sin rule over me.6
We must not be slow to serve God and others, nor be hasty or reckless. Proverbs says, “Zeal without knowledge is not good, and whoever hurries with their feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] misses the mark.7
Do The Next Right Thing the Lord Has Providentially Assigned to You
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might… All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Ecc 9:10; Prov 14:23)
God calls us to do the good things within our reach today. Let’s prepare meals, wash the dishes, do the laundry, make the bed, clean our room, repair broken stuff, answer the mail, pay the bills, and care for our yard and our pets with thanksgiving to God. Let’s not complain about tasks, but rather be grateful that the Lord has given us these things that require our effort! These duties aren’t dramatic or glamorous, but let’s see them as assignments from God! That changes everything!
Who has the Lord placed in our life? If we have a spouse, let’s love and serve him or her. If we have children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, let’s nurture them. If our parents are still living, let’s honor them. Let’s help our neighbors and friends however we can.
What can a homebound or bedridden Christian do for Christ? Many things! Despite our limitations, years of walking with Jesus give us lots to share with younger Christians—wisdom, perspective, and testimony of how God has been faithful to us. We can encourage people with a phone call, text, email, or handwritten note. We can keep a list of people we pray for and track the Lord’s answers. We can welcome people into our home, listen to their struggles, and bear their burdens. We can still memorize and meditate on Scripture and share what we learn with others. We can pray, “Heavenly Father, what can I do for You with the circumstances You have given me today?”
The Apostle Paul was sometimes physically restricted, yet his ministry did not stop. While imprisoned, he prayed, wrote letters, sharpened believers, and evangelized. He wrote, “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”8
Scripture says, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it… If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.9
To be continued
Prayer
Lord Jesus, guide our steps on Your narrow paths. Keep our feet from stumbling. Deliver us from evil and hurtful thoughts, words, and actions. Help us to call on Your assistance all day. Show us the wonders of Your great love and lead us by Your right hand. Keep us as the apple of Your eye and hide us in the shadow of Your wings when we pass through danger. Help us to do all that we do to honor Your name, advance Your kingdom, and do Your will in little and big ways today. Amen.10
Notes (various Bible translations): 1 Randy Bishop, “Just Give Me Jesus,” Christian Reader (Sept/Oct 2000), p. 25. 2 Col 3:23. 3 Matt 6:33. 4 Luke 15:11-31. 5 James 1:22; John 13:17. 6 See Ps 119:32, 35-37, 88, 133. 7 Prov 19:2. 8 Phil 1:12. 9 Prov 3:27; James 4:17. 10 Prayer based on parts of Psalm 17.