Thursday, July 29, 2010

Fulfilling His Purpose

Thursdays - Devotions for Writers

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not
abandon the works of your hands.”
(Psalm 138:8 NIV)


Do you know anyone who doesn’t want to have purpose in his life? I don’t. I think it’s a need in most of us—if not all of us—to feel that we’re contributing something to the world and the people in it. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we want to believe that our presence makes a difference. I think when people deny the internal need for purpose, the result is selfishness and greed.

God tells us that He does have a plan and purpose for our lives. We’re not put on earth to meander until we breathe our last breath. As writers, part of our calling is to write and share His word, in whatever format works best for us.

Many of you have witnessed lives changed by people not only reading the Bible, but also the devotions, articles, and books that authors pen. I’m often spiritually fed by a Christian novel as much as I am by attending a church service.

If God chooses, He can use our work to reach people not only here in the U.S., but to the corners of the world. More and more frequently, I hear of author’s books being translated into a variety of languages and sent to other countries.

A missionary friend of mine works with orphaned girls and teens in Peru. His organization takes abandoned children off the streets and provides safety in three large “homes” built for them where they can get food, medical care, and education. They receive love from the staff and they learn about the One who “is” love.

Most of these little girls have been sexually and emotionally abused. They’re wounded both externally and internally. But with care, it's possible for them to heal.

My friend expressed a need for Christian books in Spanish to help the girls understand God’s love and acceptance of them – no matter what they had done—or what had been done to them. Along with children’s books, I sent Francine River’s, Redeeming Love. The teens devoured it, and when it came time for one of the older girls to leave, he gave her a copy to take with her because the story had meant so much to her.

We may never write a novel as internationally read as Redeeming Love, but dear writers, we have our own job to do. When doubts creep in, remember . . . God will fulfill His purpose in you.

Dawn