I write this as the fruit of heartbroken, anguished prayer concerning what the Lord desires in reference to my gift of writing. He knows my heart when it comes to glorifying Him through this gift. I can have hope that He has shown me what is not only for me, but for anyone else with a similar desire and pursuit.
Through the verse John 15:4 I can see that the Lord desires me to be fruitful, that is, successful. The success I speak of is more than as a writer, but also as a believer. This can only be wise because if I wish to write something for His glory, it must be born of a maturing heart that desires to excel and be holy. Writings of this sort can only come from one pursuing a single-minded devotion to the Lord. It is like the Lord to show me such since it is more than what I could ask or think. I asked for fruitfulness in writing while He, in response, shows me fruitful writing through a fruitful life in Him.
He and His Word cannot be separated, so this pursuit includes prayerfully excelling in the knowledge of the scriptures. To me, anything less than this is vain. To write of God without the Word of God to guide is at best foolish, at worse, sin.
I find it humorously amazing to see that He uses my interest in this genre of writing in order to provoke me to further growth. This was how I was also saved. That is, with my interest to avoid damnation, I surrendered to the Lord some time back. I then later came to see I had gained much more than loss of hell, or even gain of heaven, but gained the Lord Himself with all that He has for me; first as His servant and child, then as a Christian writer.
I also see that if I wish to write of Him, I must see Him in me. This means sacrifice and pain. It means to experience loneliness, the confusion of others, ridicule and ostracism, to name a few, in order to share in the fellowship of His sufferings. If this is His plan then I need not seek these. They will come. Yet, His plan is for peace, and not of evil.
While this is exhilarating to ponder, it is also provokes anxiety because of my weakness. However, the answer to succeeding over fear and to do His will is this: Remain!
To remain is to be resolved to be committed, submissive and patient as unto Him. It also means enjoy Him and glorify Him, i.e., show Him off to others. This can be done as in all things, in His strength. In this, nothing less can be expected for this, or any other Christian writer.
Read more articles by Robert Barra or search for articles on the same topic or others.
Thank you! What an excellent 'writing' and very timely for me.
Thank you Father, and bless this writer in all that he requires at your hand. I cannot thank you enough for such an honest heart felt confirmation!
Very heartfelt and inspired. Our Father looks at that kind of focus and passion and smiles, because it is for His glory and that is true inspiration. God bless you!