Dear Writer, I hope you had a wonderful week and considered how to engage the obstacles in your writing journey! This week, we’ll look at the flip side of learning to discern the warfare in our lives.
You see, writer, once we learn to discern life’s obstacles, we can clearly recognize that, while some opposition is from our adversary, there are some things that just seem to…happen. But here’s the thing…
Nothing is static in our life with God. Nothing is random. He is always in motion doing new things in new ways. Learning to lean on His unique grace for our writing means learning to stay in step with what He’s doing in our lives and in our readers.
But before we dive in, let’s look at some others whose life in God’s river equipped them to meet every challenge…
The River in History
Georg Whitfield is a great example of a man who lived life in God’s river. When Whitfield first came to the Lord, he was ordained as an Anglican priest. But, he was never assigned to a church. Whitfield didn’t let this trouble him. Instead, began preaching in fields and markets, taking the Gospel to people who would normally never receive it.
When Whitfield’s passion for reform pushed him from the Anglican Church, he continued to widen his gaze and traveled to the American colonies. Whitfield maintained this divine adaptability wherever he went. His unflagging witness ignited the Great Awakening and played an instrumental role in the American Revolution.
The River in the Bible
Paul is another beautiful example of a man who lived life in God’s river. Throughout Paul’s ministry, he visited many peoples and cultures. As he did, Paul always sought out ways to introduce the Gospel that spoke to their heart. When opposition arose, Paul saw God’s sovereign hand at work in every situation.
Whether in a Philippian jail, or on the open sea, or in a Roman court, Paul leveraged every circumstance to spread the Gospel. As a result, jailers, sailors, governors, and kings heard the powerful message of the good news, and many were radically saved.
You see, writer, as we flow with God’s grace, we begin to recognize His sovereign hand in all we do. When life’s upsets happen, we no longer view them as a victim, but as a priest and king who can use the situation for His glory.
The River in Life
I learned to flow with God’s life when I taught news writing in Uganda. From the start, I’d asked for only five students, so I could spend ample time in one-on-one coaching. Instead, I began with seven students and at least ten auditors. I laid down very clear and rigid expectations for them all. Homework and classes were to be attended to with perfect punctuality unless previously communicated. Two uncommunicated tardies were an absence. Two absences would get them cut from the program.
Two students were cut immediately. One was replaced. And the rest, though incredibly bright, struggled with the class requirements. But with each curve ball, God showed me how to hold to the principles they needed to master, while helping each one grow in unique and individual ways.
At the end of the semester, when four students and two auditors graduated, each had achieved a significant level of mastery. Better than that, they each had experienced an amazing personal transformation.
The River in Your Life
You see, writer, in any undertaking, there are the things we expect and the things we don’t. Learning to flow with God is all about learning to see what He is doing in life’s interruptions and deviations. Because here’s the thing…
God’s path for us is often clouded. We know enough to begin but much is only revealed along the way. Though our full path may be unclear, we know it’s one He’s prepared for us ahead of time, so we can move forward, even in what we don’t know, with confidence. Let me prove it to you…
- …all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be. – Psalm 139:16b
- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10
- People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:19-21
- The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. – Psalm 37:23-24
You see, writer, leaning to live in the flow of God’s life is learning to live confidently in the sovereignty of our Father. This confidence knows He is working all things together for good. And when things seem to go awry, that confidence immediately expects His plans and purposes at work. When we learn to live like this, we develop a faith that is unshakeable.
Where to Start with the River
So are you ready to learn to flow with the river of God in your life? Here are some things to keep in mind…
- Get to Know God. In order to flow with God, it’s important to know who He is. The more we understand His heart, the more readily we can recognize what He may be doing in an given situation and lean in rather than resist. One excellent way to get to know Him is by reading the Bible with an eye to learn His character, ways, and attributes.
- Pause and Ask. One of the very best things to do when life takes a sideways turn is simply to pause and ask God what’s going on. Ask for His wisdom. Ask to understand His priorities. His ways are higher than ours. Some of life’s biggest interruptions can be His doors of unexpected opportunity, if we’ll pause and seek His guidance.
- Walk with Others. I can’t overemphasize the importance of navigating life’s journey in the company of other believers. Especially those God has called you to walk with in this season. If you don’t know who those people are, pray earnestly for God to connect you. If you do know, find ways to pray regularly for one another’s lives and walks. So much direction, encouragement, and discernment come from this holy interdependence on God’s body.
- Cultivate Gratitude. Finally, one of the best ways to begin flowing with God’s Spirit is to embrace a habit of wholehearted gratitude. In every situation—and especially in life’s obstacles and interruptions—find something to say thank you for. This simple habit can open our eyes to the ways God is at work. Because here’s the thing…
Learning to flow with the life of God is all about learning to recognize opportunity in adversity. It’s about seeing, not just where we are, but where God may be leading and growing us. It’s about preparing for the next thing amidst our current circumstances. And it’s about allowing God to stretch us in ways we never anticipated as we rise to meet life’s obstacles, rather than allowing ourselves to be thwarted, confined or defined by those obstacles. And here’s the thing…
When we begin to recognize and flow with the river of God’s Spirit in our lives, we are fitted for works we never imagined in places and with people we never conceived. Just as Whitfield stirred the hearts of colonists to fight for true freedom. Just as Paul established and wrote letters to churches that now guide the worldwide Body of Christ today. Just as I built voices and lives that have multiplied God’s glory in ways I’ll never get to fully see.
So I encourage you today writer, if you’ve been frustrated by life’s unexpected turns, take a step back and prayerfully consider where God might be at work. Then ask Him to align your steps with what He is doing. You never know the eternal impact that will be wrought through your words and work as you do.
#river #HolySpirit #growth #EveryWriterWriting
