this thought of not doing anything for christ has really played itself out in writing my book.
obviously, i can’t exactly ask god to email me my completed manuscript. i have to pray about it. i have to listen. i have to type it. i have to email it to my editor. i have to meet deadlines.
but as i am writing, it seems as if during the process, i fall into one of two zones.
one where i’m doing the writing.
or one where i’m just pressing the keys.
i know that sounds so corny, so spiritually-hokey, but as i read and re-read things i’ve written, it is VERY obvious which zone i was in. and it’s not like the stuff i write is bad. but the other words from the other zone are just…so different.
when i find myself in a dry spell, i realize i have not been filling myself to begin with.
how can i type words from the spirit to his church when i have separated myself from him?
Comments
21 responses to “i’m not going to do anything for christ (2 of 2)”
Wow Anne, these two posts hit it head on. There’s so much special Christian speak in our day to day life and “I want to do more for Christ” is right up there. So I applaud you for taking the stance of not wanting to do more but actually doing less so that God can do what He wants through you. What was this book you read? It might be helpful for others, myself included, to read.
BG-
It is called “Sit, Stand, Walk” by Watchman Nee. If you google it, you can find it free online. Thanks so much for your kind words!
It’s amazing how much even a quick visit with God can fill and inspire me. It is a shame and, if I’m honest with myself, sinful how I don’t fill up on the Spirit more.
there have been times when i have just gone through the motions too. i can definately tell a difference between when i have spent time with God and have been filled up, and when i am just “doing ministry.”
once again Anne, you have hit the nail on the head.
I am in the process of learning this myself and couldnt put it into words. the writing that i am doing is so much more effective when it is surrendered to God and he speaks through my fingers. but when i am neglecting God those words dont come and i have to force them.
i am for sure going to read that book. it sounds amazing! kudos on great books that you find.
you cannot type any words of meaning apart from Him!
Please I implore you to never type or write to simply meet a deadline. Sometimes not saying anything is the best way to communicate.
When I have nothing to say and still open my mouth…it usually ends up as a train wreck.
Keep up the good work girl!!
Girl! You are SOOOOO right on! Is God going to honor scattered busyness or being intensional?
It is better for me to walk slowly with purpose than to rush in a blindfolded stressed-out frenzy! Been there…Done that…too much time WASTED!:)
Maybe when we find ourselves in a dry spell it’s not that we haven’t been filling ourselves…maybe it’s that we are over full.
This is sooooo good. And so true with our everyday life. I want to be “in the zone” ALL the time! Thanks for sharing your life.
I really enjoyed the premise of the last two posts, and I certainly agree with the idea that we shouldn’t do anything for Christ because we can’t.
I wish, however, that you didn’t put in the ‘typical’ disclaimer while explaining the inspiration under which you write (I believe the words were “corny” and “spiritually-hokey”) All too often we spend time trying to make the spiritual palatable to the intellect, but there isn’t necessarily always a connection.
Imagine what Elijah may have felt, going to deliver a message to king Hezekiah that God was going to take his life. Having successfully delivered the message, he has to turn back halfway out the palace just to inform the king that God had heard his request and was going to add 15 years to his life. This isn’t the stuff that makes sense to the mind.
So, please don’t make disclaimers simply because you are explaining your heightened sensitivity to God’s leading, as you are growing more spiritually mature. I for one am able to see your personal growth through your vulnerability, and applaud your convictions.
I have experienced the same in my writings. I bet you have looked over the God-inspired stuff and said, “Whoa. That had to be God cuz it certainly wasn’t me.”
Can’t wait to read!
Anne…I definitely relate to what you said about noticing the difference between when you are doing the writing or when you are just pressing the keys. It can be a beautiful thing when God speaks and we just write it down. And yes in the same way that relationships with “people” take work, our relationship with God takes work too. The great thing about God is He wants to have a relationship with us, sometimes, people don’t! Shouldn’t it be easier to have a relationship with someone who wants to commune with us? Unfortunately we let things get in the way with our relationship with God and that’s why it seems so difficult at times.
Thanks for the reminder! Seasons, Seasons, Seasons! Intentionality, Intentionality, Intentionality!
great self-observation, anne!
it does not sound hokey-pokey at all.:)
a thought for you; one that might increase the ratio of time just pressing the keys:
how do you prepare before you begin a writing session? that is, how do you do your best to ensure you and the Holy Spirit are really connected? what, for you, would help you begin “well” a time of writing?
almost at the one-year countdown!
Love you Anne!
Dude! This is so cool I actually experienced this a couple of weeks ago prepering a sermon. I sat down and was going to attempt the usuall outline form thats all organized and everything. I spent about 15 minutes staring at a blank screen then I just started typing a letter from my heart word for word. That sermon was probably the most powerful, God-inspired thing that has been uttered from my lips.
not filling myself … problem #1.
trying to communicate a message i was once connected with but am somewhat distant from do to problem #1 is problem #2.
crap. this sucks.
“when i find myself in a dry spell, i realize i have not been filling myself to begin with.”
Perry Noble made similar comments to the LifeChurch.tv staff last month when he said that we need to minister from our overflow.
Maybe God’s trying to tell me something…
Thanks Anne.
Thank you for this today… I needed to hear it.
hey anne
that’s exactly why too many of my new song ideas sound like crap. my goal for 08 is to be the right side of that fence more often than not.
hope OKC is treating you well! LP misses you…
All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give