Work Willingly

Breakthrough 1

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23 NLT.

Recently, I posted a blog where I wrote about a tough time I had with a story. When I finally went to God about it—I stress finally because I would have avoided a whole lot of pain if I’d gone to him before I even started. I ended up tossing that completed manuscript.

My problems happened because I didn’t follow Colossians 3:23. I wasn’t writing for the Lord; I was writing for people. In reality, I was writing to make myself noticed. See how clever I am. See how creative I am. Aren’t these characters outstanding? Don’t these plot twists blow your mind?

I was writing to please people, not God. My motivation was off base–I wrote to bring glory to myself, not him. I worked my butt off on the story. But for all the wrong reasons.

Now, I’m in a season of transition—transformation, actually. Writing is one area God and I are working on together. It’s been a tough process. Sometimes, it feels like the creative well has dried up. Other times, I’ll get an idea and I’ll pursue it for thousands of words, only to scrap it. At first, I didn’t know why.

Now I think I do. Or at least I have a glimmer. Writing has been tough because I need to clean out the garbage I acquired while I wrote the disobedient book. Starting ideas that go nowhere is purging myself of the gunk I let into my mind. I’m not saying what I’m writing now is still disobedient. It’s part of the transformation. I think of it as decluttering. The stories may not get thrown out, but they need to be written in line with what the Father has called me to do.

I don’t know when the creative juices will flow like they used to. That’s not important right now. I need to focus on working for God, not for people. If that means a thousand false starts, so be it. None of the starts is false. All are part of the decluttering of my mind and spirit so I can be faithful. It’s slower than I would like, but I’m not stuck. I’m in the muddle of transformation. No matter how long it takes, I will see it through because I know what’s on the other side will be so much better.

Ask yourself this question: Am I writing as though I’m writing for God rather than people? Spend some time with him and listen for him to speak to you. Please share what you learn in the comments.

 

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