Grace for the Writer’s Journey: Learning to Dance

Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered taking the next step toward your God-dream! This week, we’re going to explore a powerful dynamic of learning to partner with God’s grace. That dynamic is what I call “learning to dance.”

You see, Christ has set us free, and learning to walk in that freedom as a creative is a critical part of growing into all that God intends. And the best description I’ve heard of what that freedom feels like is a dance. A beautiful flowing relationship of continuous interaction with our Father.

But before we dive in, let’s look at some others whose ability to move in God’s freedom opened astounding doors for His glory…

Learning to Dance in History

Amy Carmichael is a beautiful example of a woman who learned to move in God’s freedom. As a young girl, Amy was seized with a desire to evangelize the poor. That desire led her to India, where she began to preach in the streets. However, Amy’s efforts were often met with little result. That all changed when young Preena fled from sex slavery at the local temple and sought Amy’s help.

After that encounter, Amy immediately shifted her focus from street ministry to rescuing children trapped in the despicable practice of temple prostitution. Through her work to rescue, save, and disciple these children, Amy won hundreds of souls for Christ and made an indelible impact on Indian culture.

You see, writer, learning to dance is about learning to recognize the unexpected open doors that align with the vision God’s given us.

Learning to Dance in the Bible  

Moses is another beautiful example of learning to dance. When God called Moses to free His people from Egypt, Moses honestly engaged with God, and God graciously answered his fears. However, on the way, Moses had a second encounter with God. This time, God nearly killed him because his son was not circumcised. Quickly, his wife performed the circumcision.  God immediately relented. And here’s the interesting thing…

Moses had been raised as an Egyptian prince. Though he likely knew of God’s covenant of circumcision, it’s hard to say how well that covenant had been kept. God graciously, but firmly, showed Moses that covenantal purity was a life and death issue if he was to be God’s mouthpiece to Pharaoh. Because of that clarity, Moses quickly grew in confidence, certain that God was on his side.

You see, writer, as we learn to dance with God, there will be moments of correction. But here’s the thing. Though scripture says God came to kill him, Moses didn’t abandon God’s call. He simply recognized the seriousness of God’s unique covenant with His people and came into alignment. And here’s the thing…

Sometimes, as we learn to move in God’s freedom, we may get out of bounds. In those moments, God graciously corrects. Not because He’s angry or disqualifying us, but to make sure we stay qualified and prepared to enter the fullness of His plans.

Learning to Dance in Life 

I learned to dance during the fourth Experience Writing Conference. When God give the theme of “Grace” for 205, I was elated. Seeing how closely grace was linked to or God-given identity, I began to run with a theme along those lines. But the more I pursued the topic of identity, the less things seemed to gel together. 

Finally, I paused, prayed, and realized I’d “over-interpreted” God word. So, I backed up to God’s original word simply of “grace.” Instantly, God’s creativity flowed.However, after that initial burst of insight, I felt frozen. Afraid to make another mistake. 

After two months, I talked to a wise friend, who said, “Don’t worry about making another mistake. If you do, God will let you know. That wasn’t a bad thing in His eyes. It’s a normal part of growth.” As a result, I launched forward and saw God do unprecedented things at that year’s event!

Learning to Dance in Your Life

You see, writer, learning to dance with God is really about learning to think differently about risk, correction, and growth. It’s realizing God trusts us to make choices and take risks aligned with His heart and vision for us. Like a patient teacher, He graciously redirects us if we start to veer off course. Let me show you… 

• • My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12
  • But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. – Proverbs 4:18
  • For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – Isaiah 30:19-21
  • Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
  • But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. – James 1:25 

You see, writer, sometimes we see a false dichotomy between discipline and freedom. But if you look, “the law that sets you free” shows us there is a type of discipline that frees. Part of learning to walk in freedom is really coming to understand God’s heart, purposes, and means of blessing for us. Just like learning the steps of a dance, we learn to partner with and honor Him in everything we do.

This principle is similar to how husbands and wives grow together. As we learn each other’s boundaries and preferences, it doesn’t limit us. It actually unleashes creative potential to partner with our spouse in powerful ways, as we learn to strategically serve, support, and grow together. And the same is true of our creative journey with God. 

Where to Start with Learning to Dance

So are you ready to enter more fully into God’s dance with you? Here are some focus areas to get you started…

1. 1. Know Your Call. Knowing God’s call for you is key in learning to dance. After all, it can be hard to tango if you think you’re supposed to waltz! Take some time to pray and seek God for clarity on His call for you. You may not get the full picture all at once, but beginning to act on and continuing to pray into what He does show you are a critical first steps.
   2. Know God. Get to know God’s heart for you. Spend regular time in worship and prayer. Keep a gratitude journal of His blessings. Read familiar passages and ask Him to reveal His heart. Meditate on His promises. All of these are ways to invest in getting to know who God is beyond what He does. And here’s the thing: as we learn His heart for us, it gives us courage to step out in faith and strengthens us to receive correction as love instead of condemnation.
   3. Know His Body. Another way we get to know God is though His body. Be sure to engage in weekly corporate worship and a weekly discipleship community. Prayerfully seek out prayer partners and growth opportunities such as classes, seminars, and writers groups for your spiritual or creative growth. As we intentionally engage in Christian community, we receive encouragement and strength from the fellowship of our brothers and sisters. Also, as we move out in faith, prayer support and accountability from Godly friends is invaluable.
   4. Take Risks. Another important part of learning to dance is growing our faith muscles through stepping out on what we do know God has told us. Even before all the puzzle pieces are place! You see, oftentimes we fail to grow simply because we’re afraid to make a mistake. After all, no one likes being wrong. But here’s the thing…

Mistakes are a natural part of everyone’s growth process, from the student in school to the professional athlete, to the artistic savant, to the business tycoon. When we isolate ourselves from the possibility of failure, we exclude ourselves from the dance. Moreover, fear of failure keeps us from some of the formative experiences God intends to use to shape us for our calling.

After all, Amy Carmichael could have thought her heart to evangelize was a mistake when the people of India seemed unresponsive. If she had, she would have missed God’s unusual and powerful path to reach the nation. Similarly, Moses could have assumed God’s wrath meant disqualification. Instead, he rightly interpreted it as God’s protective love for His people. Likewise, I could have stayed frozen after my initial misstep and missed the impact and unusual doors of ministry God opened that year.

You see, part of learning to dance—to move God’s freedom—is learning to take our missteps in stride. It’s learning to see them and ourselves as God does. Through the lens of His grace. As we do, we experience His unbroken fellowship and enjoy His amazing freedom to learn, grow, and create. When we step into that river, it flows through us to spill into others, too.

So I encourage you today, writer, if you’ve been afraid of overstepping in your writing journey, prayerfully invest in getting to know God’s heart for you. Then, take that next step in the dance. You never know where He will lead you and how powerfully He plans to move through you as you do.

#dance #freedom #trust #heartofGod #EveryWriterWriting