Dear Writer,I hope you had a beautiful week and took some time to invest in your connection with God! This week, we’re going to explore one of the final keys to being a gatekeeper of God’s glory. That key is our connection to others.
You see, writer, as gatekeepers it’s sometimes difficult to see the glory God’s placed inside us. Some of that unique identity and gifting are revealed directly as we spend time with Him in prayer and study. But often, a good portion of our unique voice will be called out and built up by the people we walk with through life.
Connection to Others in History
Helen Keller’s life is a good example of how our giftings are called out through connection to others. Helen Keller became deaf and blind at just 19 months old and, with the loss of her hearing and sight, quickly became unmanageable, frequently throwing violent tantrums. Though her parents were at a loss as to how to raise her, they refused other’s suggestions to send Helen to a sanatorium. Instead, Helen’s parents saw past her uncontrollable temper and physical limitations and were determined to see their daughter learn and grow.
When they found Anne Sullivan, Anne likewise saw and doggedly pursued the gifting and capability locked inside Helen as she taught Helen to understand finger-spelling. After month’s of struggle, Anne finally broke through, and Helen understood the word “water.” Anne’s efforts to unlock Helen’s gift and talents spring boarded not only Helen’s ability to communicate but to become a public speaker and advocate for the disabled worldwide.
Sometimes we can be as blind as Helen, metaphorically speaking, to the gifting in ourselves. After all, we don’t know what we don’t know. But when we engage in meaningful relationships within Godly community, others will often recognize parts of our gifts and calling we would never would have noticed on our own.
Connection to Others in the Bible
David is another wonderful example of a man whose unique gifts were called out by others. As a young man, recognition of David’s musical talents got him appointed to his first role of service in Saul’s Kingdom—as a harpist to soothe the King’s troubled spirit. Later, as his military aptitude was recognized, he was set over Saul’s armies to lead them into and out of battle. By choosing to engage his giftings as others recognized them and sought them out, David was not only met immediate needs but was also prepared for his own future kingship.
You see, writer, as others recognize our gifts, what they say and where they invite us may feel bigger than we are. But let me encourage you to seriously and prayerfully consider these invitations and appointments. Some of them may be preparation for where God is leading you.
Connection to Others in Life
I had gifts and talents called out when I my neighbor Mark asked me to help him start a writers conference. That first year, I learned a lot as some abilities I’d counted as strengths proved to be weaknesses, and gifts I never recognized were encouraged. At the end of the year, Mark said, “I think I’m done. I think you’re ready to do this on your own now.” I passionately disagreed and begged him to stay, but over the next year I realized Mark was right. As I finally accepted and embraced what Mark saw, I was able to move forward and flourish in unexpected ways.
Connection to Others in Your Life
You see, writer, when we grow in connection to others, we’re giving God space to speak to us through His Body in multifaceted ways that personal Bible study alone can rarely accomplish. The more we engage to speak His encouragement into and receive encouragement from His Body, the more we’ll can grow to recognize God’s voice when He chooses to speak through others. Let me show you…
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- Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. – Proverbs 27:9
- As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: – 1 Peter 4:10
- …speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. – Ephesians 4:15-16
- There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
- Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
You see, writer, one of the most powerful ways God grows our voice and refines us as gatekeepers is in the context of His Body. And not only does that connection to His Body bring clarity. It also brings strength to persevere through difficulty.
Where to Start with Connection to Others
So, how do you begin to engage and grow your connections as a writer? Here are a few ideas to get you started…
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- Individual Friendships. I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord which individuals you should be walking with in this season. Because here’s the thing: all of us should have one to three people we connect with on a weekly basis who knows us and who we keep informed of our needs each week as we journey and whose needs we life up in prayer as well. This person or people don’t have to be writers. They may be a spouse, a childhood friend, etc. They simply have to be men or women of God who know you and are willing and able to walk and pray with you through your journey as you do through theirs.
- Regular Meetings. Regular meetings are another great way to get connect and grow relationships. These meetings can be writers groups or critique groups. Even a church small group will do. These groups provide a place where people can get to know one another through fellowship and share in each other’s lives, as well as in craft of writing or formal group activities.
- Large Group Opportunities. Events like workshops, conferences, and retreats can be an amazing way to build connection and receive insights from fellow writers or industry professionals who may carry a perspective far beyond your current realm of experience. These kinds of connections can often spark new seasons of growth or deepen the development of your voice, while the smaller, regular meetings and one-on-one relationships help you maintain that growth. Because here’s the thing…
- Be Open to Engage. We’re only designed to grow in the context of a body. Different members of Christ’s Body carry vital nutrients, wisdom, insight and perspective that others need. And while God fits us together in every season with other believers we can walk with, He also brings streams of refreshing to us from those outside our normal sphere of influence. Much like the blood and oxygen do in the human body. And here’s the thing…
The goal of these connections is always growth. Connection for connection’s sake can often distract or dissipate our strength. Connecting simply to receive can end up doing the very same. But, when we come to relationships seeking to build others up in their faith and gifting and to be open about our own, God can begin to move through those connections in amazing ways.
Just like He did through those who called out Helen Keller’s gifting. Her life touched thousands upon thousands through her writing and speaking. Just like He did through those who recognize David’s strengths. Through their input, God fitted David for a kingship that transformed the nation of Israel. Just like He did through Mark’s encouragement and recognition of my ability to lead Experience Writing. And here’s the thing writer…
Learning to stay connected to others is really another way to experience the heart of God as He works through His people’s successes and failures to prune and refine and strengthen us. It’s a powerful way that He fits us to shine His glory with greater clarity and power than we ever could have conceived of on our own.
So, I encourage you, today, writer, if you haven’t done so before, to consider growing your connection to the Body of Christ as a writer. It has always been one of my greatest joys to see what aspects of His glory He unlocks in me and in others as we do.
#glory #gatekeeper #connection #BodyofChrist #EveryWriterWriting
