Our
prompt this month comes from InScriber Susan Barclay who is now our Writing
Groups Coordinator.
Long ago God spoke in many different ways
to our fathers through the prophets, in visions, dreams, and even face to face,
telling them little by little about his plans. (Hebrews 1:1, TLB)
Susan
asked us to describe a time where God spoke to us about our writing or used our
writing to speak to others about Him in a meaningful way (and we received
feedback).
God
speaking to us about our writing and His intentions for us is a theme that runs
through our doubts, our plans, our drafts, our publishing and our
speaking/extended ministries. God speaks, often through nudges and through
progressive opening up new avenues for us.
Repositioning
This
month’s theme came at a strategic time for me. (How did I know that when I randomly
assigned monthly topics? But God knew.)
The
last couple years have taken me in different directions which have enriched my
life but didn’t seem to further my writing goals. My writing was slipping. My revisions and my submitting for
publication were slipping.
During
May I began sorting through many areas where I need to be more intentional in
my writing habits and plans. I’ve been like cruise ships at the end of a
cruising season. To be ready for the next cruise season, they may have to travel
long distances to their new starting point in a process called “repositioning”.
My
repositioning started with a desire to take my writing to the next level. This
was a nudge, God’s
way of moving me into His larger purposes.
From
there, God brought what I call miracles
in miniature to clarify my thinking and move me along.
Shortly
afterwards, my cousin Joan asked how my book was progressing. The truth was, I
had let that project sit on the sidelines while I worked on others. Her
question prompted me to renew my vision and work on it with renewed enthusiasm.
This was the first of what I call God’s miracles
in miniature to clarify my thinking and move me along.
Next
came the examples of two friends. Both mentioned that they ask God what they
should do for that day, in daily tasks and in writing. I thought back to the times
I asked God for specific directions as I wrote. Once, God gave me an image of the
outline for a blog. Other times I heard the Spirit’s still voice, “I will help
you,” which encouraged me on particularly challenging writing assignments or
contests. To hear the Spirit, it’s important be still and to let life’s debris settle
while God’s wisdom rises to the top.
Wisdom from coaches also spoke
to my need at just the right time. Last week one of my online coaches offered
an online webinar, “Procrastinate Proof Your Writing.” Her strategies guided me
in new ways to manage projects and overcome roadblocks. And then I reread a
blog I wrote in 2017 that gave me much to ponder. It pointed out that I need to give attention
to another coach in my life: myself. (God has a sense of humor!)
Through
all these processes, God has been encouraging me through His Word. Two pertinent
verses come from Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message):
"Trust God from the
bottom of your heart,
don't try to
figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice
in everything you do, everywhere you go,
He's the one who will
keep you on track.”
And
yes, I’ve discovered how God speaks in ways that meet our needs at each strategic time.
And
now God is nudging me to step out in faith. At our church, pastors conclude
their messages with challenge questions: “What is God prompting you to do? How
are you going to respond? What is your next step?” As I continue to reposition
and move forward in God’s strength, I will see God at work in new ways, and He
will be glorified.
Thank you so much for this post. Once again you start us off on the right foot!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy!
ReplyDeleteGod is so good! Enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liberty Belle, for seeing God's goodness in my writing. God bless you today!
DeleteOh I love this--'miracles in miniature'. It reminds me we are only needing to take on obedient step at a time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn, for your response. Taking one obedient step at a time is what God often asks of us, and He lights our way. I'm so reminded of Psalm 119:105..."Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." God bless you in your next obedient step.
DeleteThank-you Sandi, I too loved the "miracles in miniature," and: "His intention as a theme that runs through our doubts"- I too have been taken in many directions in the last few years that enriched my life, but not necessarily enhanced my writing. (And I am still pondering all of this.) Thank-you for these insights and encouragement!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jocelyn. My "miracles in miniature" resonated with a number of readers. When I go in different directions that take me away from writing, I wonder how God can incorporate these experiences into my writing. I think it's a matter of waiting on God to discover the written connection.
DeleteYour blog packs a powerful punch for me, Sandi. I appreciate your image of repositioning for cruise ships and for ourselves. This statement of yours also really speaks to me: "To hear the Spirit, it’s important be still and to let life’s debris settle while God’s wisdom rises to the top.”
ReplyDeleteEven if my life is busy with other responsibilities, I, too, need to ask God, "What do you want me to do today?” Then I need to be still enough to hear the response and obey. That doesn’t mean I will succeed in accomplishing the task God has shown me, but I can begin or make the next step that day. And, yes, God is our life coach as well.
Thanks, Sandi for getting us off to a good start.
Thanks for your encouragement, Sharon. To be still and listen to God is an important theme for me. It includes taking time to clear away the emotions of frustrating experiences. Just this morning God impressed on me to read devotional thoughts, clear my thinking, and let Him sort out how He wants me deal with the issues that had been on my mind.
DeleteThanks for the shout-out and the excellent post on what was a challenging prompt for me, even though I was the one to suggest it! Listening with a keen ear is huge, whether you're listening to others in your community, God, or yourself!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. This was a challenging prompt for me, too. How could I compress a whole month of sorting out into a few hundred words? How much easier it is for me to write after the fact when my mind has found some resolution, instead of swimming my way through the waves of uncertainty and vulnerability.
Delete