Dear Writer, I hope you had a good week and considered how to stay true to God’s unique call for you as a writer! This week, we’re going to explore the very foundation of being a gatekeeper of God’s glory. That foundation is our ongoing connection to God Himself.
You see, writer, staying connected to God throughout our writing journey is critical. He holds the wisdom for tough decisions and forks in the road. He is our true source of strength and creativity. And staying connected to Him can be so much simpler than we think.
Connected to God in History
Brother Lawrence is a beautiful example of a man who stayed connected to God regardless of his location or vocation. When he was discharged from the military with an injury, Brother Lawrence became a monk and assigned the task of washing dishes and mending sandals. Brother Lawrence maintained his connection to God and cultivated a continual awareness of His presence in these simple tasks, through ongoing conversation with the Lord, undertaking every task as a work done for the Lord Himself.
This ongoing connection fostered a remarkable joy in Brother Lawrence’s life and a depth of wisdom that drew men and women far and wide to seek his counsel.
Connected to God in the Bible
The prophet Samuel is another wonderful example of a man who maintained his connection with God. Samuel served as Israel’s final judge and—by God’s direct guidance—led Israel through a tumultuous transition in national leadership. It was God who directed Samuel to heed Israel’s unrighteous cry for a king and to anoint Saul. God also helped Samuel navigate Saul’s fall from grace and David’s rise.
Because of Samuel’s steadfast connection to the Lord, not only was his own life preserved through this perilous transition, he helped establish God’s messianic line of kings.
You see, writer, when we face transitions and crossroads, it’s God’s wisdom and guidance that keeps us focused on His goals for us, keeps us true to His call, and gives us a clearer sense of His timing. Just like He did for Samuel.
Connected to God in Life
I stayed connected to God when I taught a news writing course to my Ugandan students. Though I requested to start with five students only, others begged to audit the news writing class. As the semester progressed, it was God’s wisdom that helped me to navigate when students needed to be removed from the program and to recognize who needed an extra investment of my time and attention. Also, it was by God’s wisdom I selected the top student from among the auditors at graduation. And here’s the interesting thing…
I learned later there had been rumors of favoritism towards a particular student. Rumors God rightly quelled when I followed His leading to award the auditor, who had truly put her all into the course, as the top student.
Connected to God in Your Life
Here’s the thing writer. God knows the aspects of our work and writing journey that are unseen. As we grow in our partnership with Him, He can often work through us in ways beyond our natural level of skill and understanding—even as He’s growing us. He will also begin to leverage what we thought were failures for our good and His glory. Let me show you…
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6
- I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing – John 15:5
- Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. – Psalm 37:5-6
You see, writer, when we learn to maintain our connection to the Lord and grow in partnership with Him, He begins to do the impossible through us.
Where to Start with Staying Connected to God
So are you ready to refresh your connection with the Lord? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Quiet Time. One of the best ways to grow in our partnership with the Lord is by prioritizing daily quiet time with Him. This can be evening or morning—really whenever you are freshest or most focused. I find I like to do both a longer session of prayer and listening in the morning and a time of journaling and reflection with Him at night. The important thing is to find a time and rhythm that work for you and give you space to pray and listen. Be sure during these times to write down the things He brings to mind and puts on your heart.
- Study. Another key element in growing our connection and partnership with the Lord is taking time for daily Bible Study. I usually combine this with my morning prayer time. And here’s the thing. God often gives guidance through dialogue with Him, but He also provides direction through His word. Our discernment gets clearer as we understand more deeply His principles, His character, His ways, and His priorities.
- Fellowship. A third powerful way to grow our connection and partnership with God is actually through our connection to other believers as we are strengthened by what every joint supplies. If you don’t have a fellow believer that you regularly connect with for prayer and encouragement, I encourage you to begin asking the Lord to highlight who He’s placing in y our life to walk alongside in this season. If no one comes to mind, ask Him to bring that person into your life. We’ll discuss this a bit more in a future blog.
- Steps of Faith. One of the most beautiful ways to grow in our connection and partnership with the Lord is to step out in faith on the things we know He’s asked us to do. We may not see the whole picture, but if we know the next right step, I encourage you to take it! Because here’s the thing… We often develop our strongest connection to the Lord as we step out in faith, leaning on His strength and guidance where we don’t understand it all. Abraham himself became God’s friend as he left all he knew to follow God’s clear call to follow Him to a “land of promise” Abraham had never seen and didn’t know the way to.
You see, writer, part of being a gatekeeper of God’s glory means being positioned to experience God’s glory for ourselves in unique and unusual ways. That may not always look like fireworks and roses—but it does look like embracing God as our personal provider, shepherd, helper, guide, wisdom, and so much more! Both in our writing journey and in life itself. And here’s the thing…
As we lean into our connection with Him, His glory fills us and spills over in the most unexpected ways. Just as it did in the joy and wisdom of Brother Lawrence. A wisdom compiled into a book that’s become a classic among Christian literature. Just as it did in Samuel’s obedience that proved God sovereign rule over Israel whether the nation had a king or not. Just as it did through His wisdom that preserved integrity of the gifts He’d deposited in my students, so that His glory could be multiplied through them to the nations.
And He is ready to do the same through you as you accept the adventure of following Him into uncharted territory with the story He’s given you.
So I encourage you today, writer, to spend time fostering your connection and partnership with God. As we do, He can begin to indwell both the big and small moments of our writing journey for His glory, too.
#glory #gatekeeper #connection #abide #EveryWriterWriting
