What's Next Jesus?

A Four-Lane Intersection

I have an ever-flowing stream of ideas and new thoughts, like a four-lane intersection going through my head at all times. I feel like I'm just the person in the middle with a whistle and gloves on. Sometimes it's overwhelming, but it's exciting too.

It can be hard to know which ones to act on and which ones to let pass. It can feel at times like the line from the Lion King song: "More to do than can ever be done."

It's hard to imagine the right balance where I trust Him in this moment but also keep trying things and checking in with Him about everything. Even when Jesus is blessing my family and the church, it just feels like there are still problems to solve, and they are bigger than me. I just need to get better so I can handle everything. My prayer sounds something like, 

I need to hear from You, Jesus. I really do need Your next-step plan for this. Is there a Scripture or vision that secures my anxious heart?

Receiving Shelter

Being meek and mild or gentle of heart seems like it's more about receiving access to security and rest—the Psalm 23 kind—and being able to offer others the same. I call that becoming shelter. It is less about receiving dominating authority that we can exercise to secure peace and prosperity for us and ours.

It's hard to be meek when your defenses are always ready to shoot up at a moment's notice.

If you have an injury, make sure you allow Jesus to take you through the painful process of healing. Exposing the wound and letting it be cleaned out aren't easy, but they are necessary to avoid a festering infection that will make you—and probably the people around you—miserable.

Am I vulnerable and honest enough for my flesh to be crucified, or am I practicing self-protective behaviors? What am I actually risking for the sake of others? What pains do I take to give in ways for which I receive no recognition or credit?

Here to Serve

Are we a people who ask God, "Who am I that You are mindful of me?" Can I say, "I am here to serve and not be served"? Like Pastor Sean Fitzhugh says:

"We can't expect people who come empty to contribute; we have to give to them. When they are filled, then they'll give too."

"What's Next, Mama?"

You can imagine how much accumulates around a house with 12 people in it. The first strategy is that we have smooth floors, and we can sweep everything from all the living spaces into one pile in about five minutes. Part two is where everyone reports to the pile, and we proceed to return about 300 items—that's no exaggeration—to their homes, wherever they belong, from the garage to the bookshelves.

Mom gets right in the middle, and she starts handing out items. It's one at a time, but it goes fast. They each put their item away and come right back, and here's the powerful part: Kristin has taught each one, from the teens to the toddlers, to report back and say, "What's next, Mama?"

It takes out the deciding and the "Where does this thing go?" because she knows what they can handle, and everyone can say "What's next?" again and again until it's done. It's like a muscle that they have built up so effectively that most of them can work on the pile without Mom most of the time. They are doing it as if Mom is there to hand them what's next.

"What's Next, Jesus?"

What if I treated listening to Jesus and walking in the Spirit that way? I don't just need to be friendly with Jesus; I need to know that everything depends on receiving my instruction from Him.

Instead of evaluating every situation and problem by asking, "Is this my responsibility? Is it fair? Is someone else going to help that person, love that person?" I can just keep coming right back to Him, time after time, and say:

"What's next, Jesus?"