Last week, I talked about how God said it’s time to focus more on writing and less on other things. And that’s a good thing… as long as the writing is focused on Him.
Frankly, it hasn’t been.
And He let me know it.
When your ministry becomes your livelihood, sometimes it’s easy to forget it’s a ministry first, that it’s about God first. We don’t have to be preachers or artists for that to happen. If God’s called you to be a sanitation worker, you do that work for Him. If he’s called you to be a policeman, He is supposed to be first every single time. The same is true for doctors, house painters, maintenance workers, stay at home parents, soldiers, mail carriers… The money can’t be your first thought. The job itself can’t be your first thought. The people around you can’t be your first thought. God has to be.
In my Bible study group, we’ve been studying Ephesians 6 for three weeks now. (Yep, it’s that packed.) One of the things Ephesians 5-6 hammers on the hardest is who we truly work for. Here’s a hint… it’s not for men. The takeaway? If you’re not seeing everything you do as an act for Christ, well… you’re doing it wrong.
Ouch.
I used to start every writing day listening to Chris Sligh’s “Empy Me,” a reminder that everything has to go away except Christ. That it’s not about anything but Him. Maybe it’s time to start doing that again.
How about you? How does God remind you what should be first?
-JB
Jessica R. Patch says
Jodie! I’ve been there. Not so much the livliehood part yet but the writing fixation over focusing on God.
I love the song by Sanctus Real. Really helps me put things into perspective. Seems like it pops on Pandora just when I need it too! Lead Me. You know that one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLr6G8Xy5uc&feature=kp
Jodie says
So easy to get distracted! And Yep, I know that one! Thanks for reminding me! 🙂