Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered how to flow with God’s life as a writer! This week, we’re going to explore a natural outgrowth of that flow. That outgrowth is correction.
You see, when we begin to flow with God, there will be inevitable moments where we lack knowledge or experience. The beautiful thing about God is He doesn’t wait until we know everything to involve us in His plans. He simply teaches us along the way.
Correction is a natural part of that teaching process, as He kindly shows us a better way to do things. However, if we view correction as rejection, it can stunt the growth God intends.
But before we dive in, let’s look at some others whose ability to accept correction was pivotal to their life’s work…
Correction in History
General George Patton is a good example of a man who received correction from God. When facing adverse weather conditions at the Battle of the Bulge, Patton addressed God in several rather irate diary entries for the difficulties they were facing. Particularly, delay from foul weather. When God gave Patton victory, Patton saw even the weather had been a help. In response, Patton penned a shorter, humbler prayer…
“Sir, it seems to me that you have been much better informed about the situation than I was, because it was that awful weather which I cursed so much which made it possible for the German army to commit suicide. That, Sir, was a brilliant military move, and I bow humbly to a supreme military genius.
You see, writer. As we learn to discern and flow with God’s Spirit, we begin to recognize moments when God’s seeming lack of response is actually His gentle correction. Not because He doesn’t care. But because He has a larger view of how to help you reach your dreams. The important thing, like Patton, is to not give up in the waiting.
Correction in the Bible
King David is another amazing example of correction. When David took Bathsheba and murdered her husband, he seemed to have gotten away with the act. After the child was born however, Nathan approached him with the report of a wealthy man who stole a lamb. David, incensed, insisted on capital punishment for the thief. When Nathan revealed David himself was the thief, David immediately repented. And here’s the amazing thing…
God allowed David to remain king. In fact, God still named David a man after His own heart. Not because He overlooked the wrongs David had committed, but because He honored David’s earnest and complete acceptance of correction.
You see, writer, there will always be times of correction in our lives. Though they may not be for sins as large as David’s, there are so many ways we unintentionally veer off the path. This is why God’s correction is one of the best gifts we can receive. It keeps us from great loss and spurs our growth.
Correction in Life
I received correction while planning the fourth Experience Writing conference. That year, God gave the theme of “grace” from Ephesians 3:8. I immediately linked that grace to identity, almost without thinking. For nearly a month, I struggled tried to build a conference around knowing your identity as a writer. But the more I tried, the more the conference began to look like every other writers conference I’d seen.
Finally, I paused, prayed, and realized my presumption. Sheepishly, I went back to the word “grace.” Immediately, God’s creativity began to flow! Then after a short burst, no more direction came. All I had were a few ideas that seemed rather like my own. But I refused to be presumptuous again. I simply waited.
After two months of waiting, a dear intercessory friend said, “I know you got ahead of God, but He brought you back. And that’s kind of the point. What you did wasn’t a problem to Him. That’s a normal part of relationship.” Her words freed me to forge ahead. Happily no other large redirection was needed. But here’s the thing…
Correction in Your Life
Sometimes, when it comes to God, we can take correction as rejection. But how often does one spouse ask another to do something, and then give clarifying instructions as the task is performed? The same happens between teachers and students. And even friend to friend. So if correction is such a normal part of life, why do we draw back when it comes from God?
I think the answer lies partially in our erroneous view of Him. We see Him as Divine Judge with a gavel ready to squash anything that offends. But we forget the blood of Jesus. That when God sees us, He sees His Son. We forget that His correction, like the very best of Fathers, is meant to help us grow. Let me prove it to you…
- Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:3-11
- Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. – Revelation 3:19
You see, writer, God’s correction is a gift. Once we’ve learned to discern between enemy opposition and those moments of divine redirection, correction can be one of the most powerful catalysts for growth we ever experience.
Where to Begin with Correction
So are you ready to reconsider your relationship to divine correction? Here are a few things to keep in mind…
- Know Your Father. To walk with God as a writer, it’s critical to learn His Father’s heart toward us. If you struggle in this area or had a bad earthly father, I encourage you to study God’s heart as a Father in the scriptures. Take time with Him in worship, in prayer, in the Word, in nature—all with an eye to learn of His love for you and what He accomplished for you in Christ. Ask Him to reveal His love for you. Often, fear is what causes us to run from God’s correction. Experiencing His perfect love is the most powerful antidote to silence that fear.
- Learn to Discern. Two weeks ago, we discussed the warfare we face as we pursue God’s path. Learning to discern between warfare and correction is critical to our growth as writers. The more time we spend with God, in His Word, and in fellowship with other believers, the more easily we will be able to distinguish loving correction from the harassment of our adversary. But if you are ever in doubt, ask God for wisdom. It’s a prayer He promises to answer, especially as we go through trials.
- Know Your Identity. Identity is critical when it comes to receiving correction from God. Often, we see ourselves as sinners. That perspective may be one of the largest hindrances to receiving God’s life-giving correction that I know of. Because here’s the thing…
In Christ, we have become new creations. We are sons and daughters of the most high God. Sinners fear punishment. Sons and daughters, on the other hand, recognize correction is part of training. After all, correction is just another step toward freedom. Because here’s the thing…
God sent His Holy Spirit to be our Helper. A helper’s job isn’t remove friction. It’s to equip us to succeed in the life God’s designed for us. When we learn to receive correction well, we learn to view it as a divine grace intended to leverage us into our life calling. And here’s the wonderful part…
When we recognize and welcome correction, we are no longer troubled by bad news. Why? Because we now recognize bad news indicates either a) an enemy attack God will help us overcome or b) life circumstances or mistakes He’s using to lead us into deeper fellowship and fruitfulness. Isn’t that marvelous, writer? There is no losing for a child of God!
So I encourage you today, if you’ve been gun-shy of correction, take a deep dive into the heart of the Father. There are few things that will catalyze your growth as a writer like learning to receive the correction He so lovingly provides.
#correction #growth #EveryWriterWriting
