When I practiced law—and even more so when I sat on the bench—I saw firsthand how powerfully questions shape outcomes.
Great lawyers don’t just make arguments. They ask strategic questions that reveal truth, create doubt, or steer a case in a favorable direction. That’s the heart of the craft. In fact, the entire foundation of legal education is built on the Socratic method—a disciplined way of asking questions that trains the mind to think critically and see from new angles.
After nearly 30 years in the legal profession, what I’ve learned is this: life responds the same way. The quality of the questions we ask determines the quality of the answers we get—and ultimately, the life we live.
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.” (Matthew 7:7)
That’s more than a promise, it’s a principle. Your mind, like a diligent legal researcher, will go to work on whatever question you present to it.
Ask, “Why do I keep failing?” and your mind will build a case for why you’re inadequate.
Ask instead, “How am I growing stronger through this challenge?” and it will go looking for evidence of progress, not defeat.
When I was building Preside Global, there were days when nothing seemed to be working. I was tempted to ask, “Why is this so hard? “Will I be able to make enough money to support myself?” “Did I make a mistake leaving my judgeship?”
But I learned to ask a better question:
“How is God using this season to shape me into the leader I’m called to be?”
That question didn’t just give me peace. It gave me strategy, vision, and the ability to take the next best step.
Now I do this with everything, even money. Instead of asking, “Why is there never enough?” I ask:
“How am I so well provided for, even in uncertain seasons?”
The answers that followed have transformed my life.
Presiding Action: Reprogram Your Inner Search Engine
This week, pay attention to the questions you’re asking yourself. If you hear disempowering questions come up, pause, then reframe.
Try these powerful questions:
- “How is God already working in my favor today?”
- “What would I do in this situation if I fully trusted God?”
- “How am I prospering right now in ways I haven’t even noticed?”
Journal your answers—or speak them out loud as declarations.
You are not just a spectator in your life. You are a steward. Preside over your mind and ask powerful questions that will reshape your life.