Thursdays – Dawn’s Devotions for Writers
“Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have
the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager
willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it,
according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the
gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according
to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:10-12 NIV)
Whew! This week’s Scripture is a little longer than usual, isn’t it? You may need to read it through a few times.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians. Prior to the above verses, he states that just as they excel in faith, speech, knowledge, and love, he encourages the Corinthians to also excel in giving. Of course he’s talking about sharing what they could physically to help someone else—crops, animals, money, etc.
But if we take another look at this, I believe that we can also apply it to our writing. After all, if we are truly writing for the glory of God and not for ourselves, isn’t our work an offering to God and a gift to others? Isn’t it what we do to build, uplift, encourage, and teach both believers and non-believers?
Sometimes we can mentally want to do the work … but not have the energy. Sometimes our hearts are filled with desire to do the work, but our creativity feels lacking.
There are times when we can grow discouraged because we’re not as successful as fellow authors. Thinking that we’ll never be good enough—we’ll never measure up—might even make us feel like giving up.
We do that to ourselves. God doesn’t. He doesn’t compare us to the author who lands on the best seller list, has more Twitter followers, or better book reviews.
By design, God didn’t give each of us the same gifts. He loves us more than that. We’re each unique and special. He never expects us to do accomplish more than what we can with the tools he’s provided.
What God asks is that we follow through and not only do the work, but that we complete it. As long as we’re willing and do the best we can with the ability given—our gift is acceptable in God’s eyes. How much better can it get?
Read the following verse. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14 NKJV).
Now read it with a few words substituted. Let the words I write and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
May this be our prayer….
