The quality of the questions we ask can determine the quality of the life we live.
The questions we ask help determine who we are. When we ask questions, the natural (and super natural) result is that answers tend to surface.
“Who am I?”
“Why am I here?”
“Has anyone seen my car keys?”
Questions can be dangerous and take you to the edge of what is comfortable.
Michael J. Gelb states in his book, How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day, that the “Questions that ‘engage our thought’ on a daily basis reflect our life purpose and influence the quality of our lives.”
“To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination…” Albert Einstein
“My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.” Peter Drucker
God asked Adam, “Where are you?”
Do you think God didn’t know where he was?
Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am?” Then followed with the most important question, “Who do you say that I am?”
I guess you could ask questions that don’t really have a good answer.
- You know that little indestructible ”black box” that is used on airplanes, why don’t they make the whole plane out of the same substance?
- Why isn’t phonetic spelled the way it sounds?
I dare you to take 2 minutes on each of these questions and consider an answer.
1. What is the most important thing for me to ‘do’ today? Who is the most important person I need to ‘be’ today?
You only have today – make the best of it. Decide what your priorities are. What is the story you will create today?
2. What values do I believe in so strongly that I’d give up everything rather than sacrifice those values?
What is your life really about? What defines you?
3. Is there someone who needs my encouragement, my time, attention or support today?
You could be the answer to someone’s prayer today. You could be proof to one person that people are awesome.
4. Is there a friendship I should invest some of my attention in today?
The strong things in our life are strong because we’ve invested in them.
5. Is there anything I am doing – that shows that I don’t ‘really’ trust God right now?
Fear? Anger? Stress? Extra prayer? Lack of joy? Focus?
6. Are there any attitudes I have or actions I’ve taken that limit what God wants to do in my life?
Ungrateful? Revenge? Bitterness? Idolatry?
7. What are some ‘competing commitments’ that I am holding on to?
For example –
“I want to be a good leader.” vs. “I want everyone to like me.”
“I want a good marriage.” Vs. “I need to show that my way is the best way.”
“I want to have strong faith.” Vs. “I don’t want to serve God with my time or money.”
What questions are you asking?
