Animal husbandry (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Lord is my Shepherd. How are writers like sheep? What does is mean for a writer to pray these words of surrender. Join us in exploring what Psalm 23 means for writers and how to pray these powerful words. We’re posting today at the WordServe Water Cooler.
Betsy and Laurie
Join us at the Water Cooler to share and discuss how writers pray.
“Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. (Photo credit: Wikipedia
Jeremiah did not resolve to stick it out for twenty-three years, no matter what; he got up every morning with the sun. The day was God’s day, not the people’s. He didn’t get up to face rejection, he got up to meet with God. He didn’t rise to put up with another round of mockery, he rose to be with his Lord. That is the secret of his persevering pilgrimage. Eugene Peterson, Living the Message
Perseverance and Pilgrimage
These two words hold the key to the writing life and the spiritual life.
According to Merriam-Webster, Perseverance is the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. Pilgrimage is a journey, especially one to a shrine or a sacred place.
When we begin writing, often we find we cannot stop. The words in us must find expression or they burn and smolder, causing frustration and sometimes depression. Same with our spiritual walk. The ideas and stirrings in us toward God must find a way out – an expression of worship. The result can be connection – or rejection. That should not be our concern. Our concern is perseverance .
But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:9
The result of the perseverance – the striving to express – is continued progress on the journey toward the heart of God. Earthly success is nice and welcomed but we may never see success in our efforts. We can be encouraged like Jeremiah, that God walks with us on the journey.
But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; Jeremiah 20:11
What an incredible promise. Are you persevering today? Please share about your journey.
Betsy and Laurie
Writing Sisters
English: Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1. Our true character comes out in the way we pray.
2. Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint.
3. Prayer is the answer to every problem there is.
4. Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.
5. Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian; not the thing that makes him alive, but the evidence that he is alive.
6. Never say you will pray about a thing; pray about it.
7. God never give us discernment to criticize but to intercede.
8. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.
9. We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
10. Prayer does not just fit us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work.
Love these quotes on prayer. Do you have other favorites?
Betsy and Laurie
Join us for 12 weeks of prayer for children: Sign up here.
But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace Galatians 5:22
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14: 27
I am trying to find peace today. As always, there are a lot of things going on in my life. People I love struggle and are hurt. There are challenges and decisions. There is just a lot to do. Where can I find peace?
When I try to find peace by controlling my circumstances I come up short. It is only when I surrender those circumstances to God that I find peace in the middle of it all. I can surrender that control only when I have the assurance that God is good and that He can be trusted with my challenges. The answer for me lies in time spent with God:
This reminds me that He is bigger than my circumstances, He is good and He cares about me. That’s a relief.
“Christian peace is not the absence of troubles. It is a peace that is unshakeable even in the midst of troubles.”
“If we set our hearts on anything but God, we can lose our peace. But if our greatest love is the unchanging God, then our peace can never be taken from us.”
Tim Keller
God’s peace or my attempts to control? It is a matter of choice. I can choose to practice peace.
Today I choose peace.
Dear God, Please send to me the spirit of Your peace.
Then send, dear Lord, the spirit of peace from me to all the world. Amen.
Marianne Williamson
How do you find Peace?
Betsy and Laurie
