My decision to write a new post today came about as one godly thing led to another and another, which then led me!
First, God led some members of our Christian Poets and Writers group on Facebook to remind us this morning how our lives in Christ have a purpose and how God has a plan for each of us.
Another member said this is National Suicide Prevention Week, which connects with the theme of God’s plan and purpose, too, in that people who consider taking their own lives usually can see no plan, no purpose, and no reason for living.
Another member gave suggestions about ways to hear God’s word to us and, therefore, become more aware of a divine plan for our lives.
In addition to those factors, the reading for my next Bible Study group discusses the gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12 – gifts that inform, edify, and guide our Christian writing lives.
If you have no idea what ministry gifts you have, type “Ministry Gifts test” in the search box on the Internet, and you’ll get a variety of sites to visit. After you have responded to each question, you’ll get an assessment of your gifts, along with their ranking. That’s important to know because, unlike natural God-given talents, which might be used for your own pleasure and enjoyment, your ministry gifts have been given to you to help uplift and strengthen the church.
That needs highlighting:
The Holy Spirit gives each of us ministry gifts to build up, nurture, and encourage the whole Body of Christ.
You’ll want to do that locally, of course, as you serve and minister to your church family, but as a poet or writer, your ministry gifts will help to guide the type of writing you’re meant to do.
For example, if the Lord has given you a gift of teaching, you might be led to write nonfiction books, articles, or Bible study guides.
If God has given you a gift of encouragement and empathy for others, writing spiritual poems, devotionals, and children’s books could be just right for you. Or, perhaps, you'll show loving relationships, realistically, in a novel.
Regardless of your ministry gift and writing talent, these tips might help too:
• Believe God’s promise to you of gifts from the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4.)
• Pray for God to reveal your gifts and God’s unique plan for you.
• Expectantly await the results!
• Let the Bible, that “inner knowing” given to you by the Holy Spirit, and, often, the affirmation of Christian friends, lead you into God’s plan and purpose for you and your writing life in Christ.
© 2015, Mary Harwell Sayler. If you need prayer about this, post your request in the Comments below.
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