Are you asking God the right question?
By Andy Miller
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” - Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
I grew up in Peru as a son of British missionaries at a time when the church was facing persecution. I felt a sense of purpose in my faith linked to my family’s role in mission. However, when I was 16, we moved back to the UK and I hit a crisis. Everything was unfamiliar and my parent’s marriage was falling apart; they would eventually divorce. I was sad, lonely and confused.
One day I was crying and praying “God you have to answer me! God, I need you to answer me!”. Suddenly a thought dropped into my head – I felt the Holy Spirit gently saying, “but you are not asking me a question”.
A sense of awe came over me. I thought “I can ask God a question... What am I going to ask?” I dried my eyes and I remember deliberately asking: “God, what do you want of me?”
Then I got up and went to a Bible study. The leader said he felt the Holy Spirit give him one Bible verse and he thought we should all read it as it might be relevant to somebody. It was Micah 6:8.
Somebody handed me a Bible version where this verse was a word for word answer to my question!!!
“I have shown you oh man what is good and what does God want of you? Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.”
The timing of this answer demonstrated to me that the Holy Spirit hears us in our most intimate and vulnerable time. He cares and He answers.
3 Elements of an Encounter with God
Notice that there were three key elements in this encounter with God:
- Earnestly seeking God in prayer.
- Receiving an answer through biblical revelation.
- The context was through intentional Christian fellowship.
Promise Keepers is a place for such encounters.
A Challenge for You
My challenge is for you to come to a Promise Keepers Event with your men's group and invite a friend, maybe a young person, and believe for them to have a life-changing encounter with God.
Take some time to ask the Holy Spirit a deliberate question and bring that expectation into community with other men. If you live in the Canterbury area or are able to travel, join us for the PK Christchurch men's event coming up on 4-5 September 2026! Come ready to connect, worship, and experience God together in a powerful way.
[Click here for event details, registration, and ticketing info for PK Christchurch]
Receive grace in Christ!
Ngā mihi nui,
Andy Miller
VOM NZ Advocate
Consider These Discussion Questions and Join us on Friday to Discuss Them and Use Them In Your Men's Group
Start by taking a few minutes of quiet reflection to silently ask the Holy Spirit, "God, what do you want of me?"
- The Pivot from Pleading to Purpose
When Andy hit a season of personal crisis at 16, he found himself crying out, "God, you have to answer me!" before realising he wasn't actually asking a question.
Question 1: Have you ever found yourself in a season where you were demanding a "fix" from God rather than asking Him for direction? How does shifting your prayer from "God, fix this" to "God, what do you want of me?" change your perspective?
- The Power of Intentional Scripture
Andy's question was met with a direct, word-for-word answer through Micah 6:8 ("To do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?") delivered unexpectedly at a Bible study.
Question 2: Share a time when God used Scripture or a timely word from someone else to answer a specific prayer or question in your life. Why is it so crucial to anchor our personal struggles in biblical truth rather than our own feelings?
- The Three Pillars of Encountering God
Andy highlights three key elements in his encounter: earnestly seeking God in prayer, receiving biblical revelation, and experiencing it within the context of Christian fellowship.
Question 3: Looking at those three elements - prayer, scripture, and fellowship - which area is currently strongest in your life, and which one tends to get neglected when life gets busy?
- Bringing Expectation
Andy challenges men to come to gatherings like Promise Keepers with their groups, invite friends, and actively believe for an encounter with God.
Question 4: What does it look like for us to cultivate a posture of expectation when we meet together? Who is one person, friend, family member, or younger man, that you can intentionally invite to the next local event to share in that experience?
The Next Promise Keepers Event is in Christchurch on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September
CHRISTCHURCH MEN, This Is Your Moment (4-5 Sept). 🔥
The 2026 Promise Keepers Christchurch Men’s Event is locked in for September 4-5 at Christchurch Elim City Church. Featuring Ps Ants Punivai on Friday night and a powerhouse program all day Saturday, it’s going to be a game-changing weekend.
📅 WHEN:
- Friday, September 4 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday, September 5 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 WHERE:
Christchurch Elim City Church, 285 Cashel Street, Christchurch
COST: $25
Ages 15 and up - let’s pack the room out. Grab your sons, your mates, and register at www.promisekeepers.org.nz/christchurch2026/ today!
Check out this personal invite from Ps Nu [Watch Here]
👉 Secure your spot now here at www.promisekeepers.org.nz/christchurch2026/(or scan the QR code on the poster.)
