Theme Bible verses for inspirational writers can help us remember why we're writing. I—or rather—the Holy Spirit - chose a theme verse for me that
fits in with what I believe He's been speaking to me about my faith and
writing for 2018. You’re invited to try and guess which verse it is before I
list it at the end of this post.
The nudge to focus more on this verse started when I watched
a YouTube video by Nabeel Qureshi, a well-known speaker who is also a former Muslim. It was his final vlog because cancer cut his
life short even though he battled it as bravely as he could. But he had peace
because he left the final outcome to God; he knew cancer was a dust bunny God
could easily sweep out of his body.
His final words were about love:
- He stressed love as being the greatest thing.
- He didn’t want us—the body of Christ—to lose sight of it or forget it.
So when a good friend told me she was battling cancer. My
heart turned to stone and dropped to the lowest level of hope when she also
mentioned how hugely the odds were stacked against her.
I figured if God allowed someone even younger than us to die
of cancer, who was I to believe and ask Him to save my friend from this
despicable foe?
Real faith chooses to believe.
So I asked for
healing for her. And the more I prayed, the more my heart lightened and the
more my hope grew.
What is faith if I don’t exercise it?
What is faith if it
doesn’t ask for good things for others, even impossible things?
Faith hopes,
believes, and therefore asks.
Because real faith goes to work; it doesn’t call
in sick.
My friend did beat the first round of cancer; against the
odds, those nasty dust bunnies were blown to bits. And we all rejoiced because
God said yes that time. She is now battling a second round of cancer that
showed up in another part of her body, and prayers are once again being sent to
the One who is more than able to demolish the delinquent cells.
We know He can,
and we hope He will.
Now back to my verse of the year:
It’s no surprise that God would point out a verse related to
the very thing I’ve been secretly and not-so-secretly complaining about. If I’m
going to whine about a lack of love in the world, then I should be part of the
solution. I should fill more of my writing with it.
This oft missing ingredient is the same thing I saw shining
in the face of my sweet friend so many years ago when she expressed her faith through
it; she prayed for me privately, invited me to her house Bible study, and then invited
me to her church because of it—because of love.
Love.
As I go into 2018, I want to write words penned with
unconditional love.
The world needs more of love’s ink spilled across pages of
books, magazines, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and
face to face too. I’m going to share this message through doors that are
already open and knock on doors I believe He’s asking me to brave.
Because:
The only thing that matters is faith
expressing itself
through love.
Galatians 5:6 NIV
What’s your favorite verse right now? I’m nosy-to-know.
It's hard to pick a favourite but my verse for the year is from Psalm 62:5. My soul wait thee only upon God, for my expectation is from Him.
ReplyDeleteWonderful verse, dear Tracy. Reading it gives me peace as I'm reminded where our hope comes from.
ReplyDeleteBlessings on your health and writing for 2018 ~ Wendy
I have so many! But the one that comes to mind most often is Romans 8:28.
ReplyDeleteThat's an excellent one to remember when tough stuff happens, dear Kim. It's a peacemaker--for sure--when life unravels.
DeleteBlessings for 2018 ~ Wendy
I was way off track with your verse. I thought you were in Hebrews 11 :)
ReplyDeleteMy verses for this year are Proverbs 3:5,6:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Excellent life verse , dear Ruth. I've been thinking about this one as I wonder which writing projects to focus on this year.
DeleteBlessings for 2018 ~ Wendy
I love this: "Because real faith goes to work; it doesn’t call in sick." Thank you for illuminating what faith looks like!
ReplyDeleteThe verse God has put on my heart this year is "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14
Thank you, dear Karma. Matthew 5:14 is a good reminder we're not to hide the gifts He's given us. They're for shining His Light, love, and glory.
DeleteBlessings as you shine Jesus in 2018 ~ Wendy
I needed time to think on this one, Wendy, since you are nosy to know. My word for the year is HOPE. I hadn't chosen a particular scripture verse for the year, so I kept this open. Then one of Glynis Belec's generous prizes arrived in the mail. Included in her package was an InScribe bookmark I'd forgotten about: Pray for the Word Warriors.
ReplyDeleteThe prayer was excerpts from James 1:2-8, which discusses how to deal with trials, how to receive wisdom, how to be unwavering and believing in our requests to God. Although all of this passage is important, here is the portion I will headline.
"Consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure . . . If any of you lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who will give it to him . . . You must believe when you pray and not doubt at all . . ." (Good News for Modern Man)
Thank you for such a rich and encouraging comment, dear Sharon. Hope is a biggie. On HopeStreamRadio.com, my podcast page is called: Walking with Hope. Hope is to our soul what blood is to our heart--essential.
ReplyDeleteYour words are a wise meditation for me today.
Blessings of His hope for 2018 ~ Wendy