Menu- Orange, blackberry spinach salad, almond butter balls, veggie fried rice
I found myself in a foul mood this morning. This can be attributed to various reasons or maybe nothing particular. Sometimes, you just wake up feeling like crap. Regardless, I knew I had to shake it. I could not go into the world with this. It could permeate the rest of my day and I did not want that.
I began going through my thank you’s but remembered what I had learned in Day 17. I read my Daniel Fast devotion for the day. I noted the garlic metaphor regarding how Christians must be mindful how they carry themselves in the world.
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life…”
II Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV
I had to fix this mood. So, I began repeating Psalm 118:24 over and over again. God had given me this day! I had a responsibility to rejoice. I had a responsibility to be glad. I thought about his benefits in Psalm 103.
“who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things…”
Psalm 103:3-5 NIV
There was his love again. It brought me to my knees. There, I began to love on him with thanksgiving. This gave way to his presence and a chance for us to chat about something.
Why am I writing this blog?
Is it for attention? For likes and comments? Is it to build my brand?
The answer is yes to all of those questions. But it’s the wrong answer.
God has given me a gift of writing. He also gave me a vision for the gift. But, I have become impatient with how long it’s taking for the vision to manifest. I started this blog to exercise my writing skill. I also started it to gain an audience. However, that is not why God wanted me to start this blog. He never wants us doing something to bring glory to ourselves. We do things to bring glory to him.
“If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power…”
I Peter 4:11 NIV
He called me out on my pride. This isn’t about me. It’s about him. God-given gifts are meant to be lights that lead people to him. He gives them to us because he trusts that we will use them correctly. I have betrayed that trust.
I decided I need to look at the purpose of my blog and book in a whole new way. I will not write to gain likes and readers. I will write to touch the one reader for whom the message is meant.
Changing my mentality regarding writing is not simple. I told God, “I really need your help to do this. I need to understand how to do this.” He has led me to do a very interesting study. I’m going to start looking at the first few verses of every book after the Gospels in the New Testament. Those verses tend to focus on why the author is writing their letter. I want to take note of their desires for the people they are writing to. This fuels the content of their writing. It will teach me how to rightfully use this gift.
I’m excited about this study. I will share my findings in future posts.
Stay tuned!