I think the title of this post is actually the line of a song The Eagles sang. But it is the story of my life lately. It's been one of those seasons. A desert season. Nothing flowed. Nothing grew. Nothing got me going. I knew there were things I needed to do. Writing being a priority. Yet I didn't have anything to give. Other things seemed to demand my attention, or I gave my attention to nothing at all.
I'm not even sure what this will turn out to be, but I know that today I absolutely M U S T take this keyboard and type. I have an encourager who asked me last night, "What have you written lately?" We talked a bit about what I had been feeling and the battles I had faced. And I knew then, the times, they were a-changing.
A couple weeks ago our pastor asked what we are doing? The sermon was about doing what God has given you to do. I heard it, and I listened, and I sat there saying to myself, "OK, self. Tomorrow's the day. Tomorrow you will write." And I tried. But nothing came. I put words down, but there were no sentences. Turning off the computer, I wondered if I was a misguided soul who had it all wrong. Maybe God wasn't really taking me down this path. Satan was on his way to convincing me that God couldn't use me.
Then I remembered that night when this blog went live and how God had proven to me that this was indeed His plan and He was leading me to write and encourage anyone who would read. Let me share with you what happened last week.
There is a women's conference coming up in less than a month that I am going to speak at. There will be women from several churches speaking. When the lady called to give me my topic, I couldn't help but laugh. My part is about God's salvation when we are stressed. Anyone who know us knows we carry a heavy load. It's funny how that load gets heavier when God has something for you to do or say. It can weigh you down and make you immobile. Stress can attack you physically and mentally. You become trapped and unable to maneuver your way out of the mess that is drowning you.
So, what's stressing you today? What is keeping you from doing God's business? Are you retreating and hiding at home? Are you getting busier with other stuff to avoid the real issue? Has Satan convinced you of your uselessness? If these things are true for you, think about this:
"You better get busy doing what God has for you to do before you become disobedient." That's a quote from that sermon a mentioned earlier. If God has prepared your heart and given you a sincere desire to do something, why are you not doing it? Sure! Someone can do it better. Definitely, someone is smarter. Many people all around you are more creative. I am never going to be a best-selling author. However, I can encourage you today. And it's as simple as that.
Get up, friend. Do it! Whatever the thing is that is burning deep in your heart. That thing you think of every day. That thing you dream about. That thing that keeps you uneasy because not doing it is proving to be disobedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. David told Solomon as he was commissioning him to build God's temple..."Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it." I Chronicles 28:10. Later in I Chronicles 29:20, David says to his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord's house is finished."
So, my friend, we must apply this to our own lives. Let me encourage you this way: Realize today that the Lord has chosen you for this special path, to do this thing he has laid on your heart, the thing that penetrates your thoughts and dreams. Be strong, and do it. Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, the Lord God, the God who created you for such a time as this, the God who gave you this burning desire of your heart is with you. He absolutely, positively will not leave you. He will not forsake you. He will not bring you to this precipice and abandon you, leaving you to falter and fail or fall off the cliff and perish. He will be beside you lovingly holding your hand and gently prodding you onward until all the work he has prepared you for is finished. Don't you want to be able to stand back and take a look at the finished product? I want to be able to stand back and admire the beautiful piece of art God creates through my obedience to do the work. LET'S DO THIS! You with me?!
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