I write to sort through my feelings and to clarify parts of the Bible I don’t understand. I write because it’s my heart’s desire.
Most important, I write because I believe my writing is part of God’s divine plan.
Yes, our writing is a part of God’s plan. Like Noah gathered animals to house aboard the ark, we write stories, blogs, plays, and other forms of the art to obey God’s command.
Obeying the God who releases the rain from the clouds helps us to grow as writers. He gives us a safe space to express our feelings. He helps us to understand his Word better. He instructs us how to best use our heart’s desire.
Let’s do as Noah did and commit to write everything God commands.
Genesis 7:5 (ESV)—And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
The camera’s fall from a wooden post on a mountain in Switzerland.
2 Corinthians 11:23 (ESV)—Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
The camera survived the fall. Twice. Once toppling from the bed onto a hardwood floor in a Pittsburgh bed and breakfast, and once tumbling from a wooden post on a mountain in Switzerland.
Not to boast, but that’s one resilient camera.
Like my camera, the apostle Paul survived a “fall” more than once in his life. He did not fall from God, though, but rather experienced falls of punishment for spreading the message of salvation. These falls could have sank his spirit. He could have given up. Pushed God’s ministry aside. But he did not. He strove to spread God’s message despite floggings and imprisonment. He did more than survive; he worked for Christ again and again.
Sounds exhausting, no? Yes, but Paul found endurance from boasting…in the Lord. Not in himself or his part in God’s ministry. He labored for God again and again because he knew effective service comes from God.
Like Paul, are we boasting in Christ again and again? Are we serving with our entire being the God who created us with the ability to bounce back from difficult situations and push forward in his ministry?
I hope the answer is a resounding “Yes!” and I pray our “afflictions, hardships, [and] calamities” (2 Corinthians 6:4, ESV) encourage us to labor for the One who created us in his image.
Writing for God, we put on paper or online moments of our lives for all to read. When we have faith in his purpose for our words, like the centurion had faith in Jesus to heal with a word, God works wonders. He heals. He encourages. He clarifies.
He uses his authority for a purpose, and our words become more effective under his authority. As we publish, we can pray, “Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the word, and someone will experience your might through my writing.”
Matthew 8:8 (ESV)—But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
God’s generosity extends further than we can imagine.
Matthew 8:10 (ESV)—When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.
“God is generous to give us this time,” I told my husband while he drove us along Interstate 90 through South Dakota during a spur-of-the-moment trip. He agreed and we continued to enjoy the scenery.
What sparked this thought?
A moment of clarity about faith as I thought about a devotional I was writing. God loves and wants to be there for us even when our faith is not immediate or when our belief wavers. Even more, he marvels when we recognize his authority in our lives.
This recognition of God’s authority brings his Kingdom to life for others as well as ourselves. Our declaration that “God is generous” reveals the blessings we have received and it may lead others to put on the same faith so they may receive their own blessings from God.
Luke 10:8-11 (ESV)—Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
Settling in my coach class seat, I shot my hubby a hopeful look. “Maybe the train attendants will offer dining reservations to us today.” I crossed my fingers. From past experience I knew that the staff would offer the three-course dining-car meal to the coach passengers only when room was available. My reservation wasn’t guaranteed, and even if I received one, it locked us into a specific time.
Unlike a reservation, Jesus’ invitation of salvation is available to everyone, everywhere, at any time. This formal request for us to live for him on earth while we wait to live with him in heaven is ours for acceptance.
When we accept this invitation, we accept God’s mission for our lives, the same as the seventy-two’s: to spread the message of salvation.
Proverbs 27:8 (ESV)—Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.
Sunset, in Denver, Colorado, shadows streaked across the sky, a flock of birds dancing as one while twenty or more lined up on a power line in the distance. Their back-and-forth dance, a choreographed masterpiece, lasted about five minutes. My feathered friends then, all at once, as if they’d heard a signal, shot down from the sky and into the trees lining the sidewalk, and a symphony of birdsong exploded into the air.
A sight to behold, for sure, and a reminder of God’s design for seeking wisdom in friendship. When we flock together and seek heartfelt, biblical wisdom from one another, our friendships become a restful “home” and a safe, secure place for our relationships to grow and thrive.
With our friendship homes, we don’t need to stray to find our heart’s desires; instead, we settle into the firm foundation of God with a community of believers. We pray for, gently guide, serve, and confide in one another. Most important, we love one another, settling into the tree and creating a symphony of friendship that puts our soul at ease.
To stand watch on the ramparts is to commit oneself to the protection of others.
Habakkuk stood on the ramparts to await God’s answers to difficult questions. Questions such as “Why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13, ESV). He asked these questions to seek answers for the Israelites about their delivery from slavery.
Like Habakkuk, we can stand on the rampart to wait for God’s answers to the difficult questions we want to write about. Our commitment to seeking answers from God can lead to stronger writing with clear explanations for others seeking the same answers.
Before we write, let’s ask God our difficult questions and wait on the rampart for his answers.
Habakkuk 2:1 (ESV)—I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
Hurt, such a small word for such a big emotion. Hurt comes in many shapes and forms, from a harsh but true critique of our writing from a trusted friend, to feeling like a failure when we receive yet another rejection.
Hurt, however, drives our spirit toward God. When we share our cry to the Lord in our writing and, more important, God’s healing result, other people receive a truth about God. Indeed, our proclamation of God’s truth makes others aware of God’s power to heal hurt, driving them toward the Healer.
So let’s share our truth, our cry to God, remembering he can bring our words to life for others.
1 Kings 17:21 (ESV)—Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life[a] come into him again.”
1 Kings 17:24 (ESV)—And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Our sin runs deep, yet despite our faults God remains faithful. Faithful to demonstrate his love when we reveal our broken spirit in our books. Faithful to provide wisdom to others when we divulge our deepest thoughts in our devotionals. Faithful to comfort others when we share our stories in blog posts.
Because he is faithful, we can write with a broken spirit and offer our brokenness to God. Then he can use our words for his good.
Psalm 51:17 (ESV)—The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Proverbs 16:1 (ESV)—The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
A caption caught my attention while I browsed photos telling stories of Frank Lloyd Wright. The simple landscape photo, part of an exhibit in the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin, showed a field with cows in the foreground. According to the caption, Wright pointed out to the landowner that the cows in the foreground made the view of the grassy field better.
The same can be said when we fix God in our foreground. The plans of our heart transform from a flat view of a grassy field to a field with a clear focal point. The next steps of God’s plan for us become more evident.
Before we take our next steps, let us seek the Lord’s wisdom. When we seek his wisdom, we can hear his voice and discern his purpose. Then we can move forward with God in the foreground to guide us.
