Recently, the Lord has been ministering to my heart about the writing gifts of Christians. So often, we become consumed in what we believe is our "GREAT TALENT" and we forget our true call, and even the purpose for our gifts.
(1.) We must remember that poetry writing is not OUR gift! This gift and all its flavors belong to God, and have been given to us by him.
We should be thankful, and always mindful that the poetry we write should minister to us, as well as bring tremendous light, wisdom, and comfort to others.
(2.) God did not present the gift of poetry to us for entertainment. Instead, poetry is a ministry tool used to help spread the good news of the Gospel for Kingdom building. (Just look at the numerous books of the Old Testament! Most of them overflow with prose and poetry.)
Christian writing ALWAYS heals comforts, exalts, encourages, corrects, warns, rebukes, or otherwise carries the message of the Gospel.
Christian writing ALWAYS line up - without question - with the Word of God, the Holy Bible.
It is okay to be light hearted and humorous, serious and burden bound when writing. The finished product, however, will center on Kingdom building.
As poets, we must be mindful of satan's strategies and tactics. He often uses lust - the element of our flesh that seeks acceptance, achievement, popularity, glory, and praise - to pull us from our God-driven destiny and back into the world.
We must pray constantly that God keeps us humble. We must remind ourselves that we have been entrusted with very specific assignments for the Kingdom.
For example, poems have dropped into my spirit on many occasions after meeting someone who may or may not be saved. I write the poem as I receive it from God, and share that poem with the person who inspired it. Each time, that person is blessed, and an opportunity for ministry arises.
(3.) If nothing else, please remember this. We MUST never chase the gift! Instead, we MUST chase the Father!
It is not the gift that moves us to action. It is our hunger and thirst for our God! Sometimes, as we grow in ministry, we have to stop what we are doing and ask God, "Why am I doing this? Am I truly doing this for you? For Kingdom building?" If your answer is no, then, take the time to repent and place your focus back toward God.
By allowing God to speak poetically through us, it is necessary to have an active prayer life, a spirit of humility, and be in a Jesus preaching church where the spiritual man is constantly being fed with the WORD.
Think of it this way, the Word can't come out of you if Word isn't going inside of you.
Also, we should never compare our gifts to the gifts of others! Poetry is as unique as we are as individuals! Just take a look at all of the flavors of poetry out there!
There are people whom God will send your way that ONLY you can minister to! We are all unique - yet one body - in the ministry of poetry. There's a place at the table for everyone.
Always write to glorify God. After all, we want him to be well pleased with us. We want to be good stewards over what he has given. We want to walk out our destiny and purpose through him.
Peace and Blessings
Theresa Harvard Johnson
http://www.voicesofchrist.org/voc_focus.html
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