Book Review: Just Do Something
Tips and what to look for
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:9-10
The Big Idea
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Major Themes
The task of “finding God’s will” is a modern cultural creation that leads to passivity, lack of productivity and frustration
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The popular, cultural understanding of God’s will is deficient compared to the classic, biblical understanding of God’s will.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The classic, biblical understanding of God’s will is acting on what He has already revealed in Scripture.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Favorite Quotations
“God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.”
“Obsessing over the future is not how God wants us to live, because showing us the future is not God’s way. His way is to speak to us in the Scriptures and transform us by the renewing of our minds. His way is not a crystal ball. His way is wisdom. We should stop looking for God to reveal the future to us and remove all risk from our lives. We should start looking to God—His character and His promises—and thereby have confidence to take risks for His name’s sake.”
“Rather than wallowing in a pseudo-spiritual state of wandering and disease, God wants us to get about the business of living….Which means putting aside fretting about First World problems, putting one foot in front of the other, and pleasing God with ordinary faithfulness.”
“The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we’re going.”
“What matters is that we not lose sight of the freeing message of Scripture; namely, that when it comes to finding God’s will, the Lord of the universe does not mean to hide anything from us. There are divine mysteries we will never understand this side of heaven and a myriad of ways God guides our steps here on earth. But let us not forget we serve a generous God, a loving heavenly Father, a Good Shepherd. He expects us to know His will, and by His grace, He empowers us to do it.”
“We should spend more time trying to figure out how to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (as instructed in Micah 6:8) as a doctor or lawyer and less time worrying about whether God wants us to be a doctor or lawyer.”
Application Questions
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Related Resources
Article: The Best Commentaries
Commentaries provide insight and depth into Scripture from those who understand the text best. Think of them as guides who have walked the path of study before and can show you where to look. Consider this list of five excellent commentaries for Colossians.
Article: The Supremacy of Christ
The book of Colossians is about the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ. Consider these these six ways that, not just the book of Colossians, but all of Scripture teaches the supremacy of Jesus Christ and that He is in fact God Himself.
Article: Bible Reading Plans
Breath prayers are exactly what they sound like: prayers that can be said in a single breath. This is an ancient discipline that has been practiced by Christians throughout history in order to remind us of God’s beauty, authority and presence in our lives.