May 6, 2008

By Vonda Skelton

Posted in: Ramblings | Christian Living | Writing Instruction | Women's Ministry | Jesus | Writer's Conferences

God's Good, Pleasing and Perfect Will

May 6, 2008

I can't tell you how many times I've begged God to give me a clear sign so I'd know His perfect will for my life--you know, something really Biblical, like a message written across the sky, with fireworks exploding around it. But when I gaze up into the vast blue beauty, all I see is a white puffy cloud that looks like a hamburger. Am I supposed to give up this writing thing and work at McDonald's? (Don't laugh. I'd certainly make more money flipping burgers!)

forestroadlg Are you like me? Are you sometimes in the dark when it comes to discerning the road God has for you? Maybe it's simply a question of where to live or what car to buy. Or maybe you need direction regarding a marriage partner or a career choice.

Or maybe you need to know what you're supposed to write.

Or whether you're supposed to write at all.

For the past several weeks I've been focusing on finding God's will for my writing/speaking life. There are so many good things we can do-and we may do many of them well-but as my family and friends have to constantly remind me, we can't do them all...and do them all well...all at the same the time.

Like many of you, I do a lot of things. I speak at women's events around the country, write Christian women's non-fiction books, write children's mysteries and speak to kids in schools, write magazine articles and website content and plays and music/lyrics. I teach at writers' conferences and offer writing critiques. I baby sit grandchildren, and have responsibilities at church. And somewhere in there, I have a wonderful husband who deserves to have a wife who shows him how much she loves him.

I'm not sure I can do it all.

So, I sit down and follow the world's instruction on how to decide what I'm supposed to do to find the answer: I make a list of Pros and Cons. Sounds easy enough. But by the end of the list, I realize that for every item, the Pros column is overflowing, and I can only think of one thing to put under the Cons: I don't have time.

But I want to do it all! I love writing and speaking and teaching and helping. I love acting and singing and entertaining. (Did I tell you I came home from the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival ready to sign up with an actor's agent AND write a screenplay for a TV pilot? AARRGGGGHHHHHH!?!?! Am I crazy or what???)

The truth is, if God has gifted us with talents and passions, He plans for us to use them for His glory. He has given each of us everything we need to pursue the plan He has for our lives. BUT (and this is a big "But...") He doesn't expect us to do it all, do it all well, and do it all at the same time.

Profound, huh?

Once we understand that truth, the dilemma then becomes, "If He's gifted me for all these things, how do I know what He wants me to do now?"

His answer to you and me is in Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

Did you get that? If we want to know his good and pleasing and perfect will for our lives, we have to do three things:

  1. Offer our bodies as living sacrifices. In contrast to the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament, God wants us. He wants our bodies, our lives. He wants us to put away our own desires and plans and goals, and give them all up for what He has planned for us. Do you want to write a bestseller? If we're honest, we'd all have to admit that we would love to be on the "A" list. But what if God merely wants me to write and share my work with my church? Would that be enough? Would that be enough for me? Would it be enough for you? Sacrificing our desires for His is our spiritual act of worship.
  2. Do not conform to the pattern of this world. In case you haven't noticed lately, this world is getting worse everyday. Yes, I know sin has been here since the fall, but with the advent of technology, sin is more readily available and thrown into our faces (and the faces of our precious children) as never before. The world says it's okay. It says everybody's doing it. It awards recognition and insidiously enters our homes through generally accepted, generally approved sources--like bestseller books, blockbuster movies, and popular magazines. And yet, I Thessalonians 4:7 tells us that God has not called us to live impure lives, but to live at a higher standard than the world. Whose standard are we living up to?
  3. Be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Years ago, soon after I realized I didn't really know beans about writing for publication, I attended Marlene Bagnull's Write His Answer seminar in Franklin, NC. I remember driving up the mountain, begging God to let me get published. Less than 24 hours later, I came down the mountain promising God I would write, whether I was ever published or not. For the first time, I saw this gift, this passion for writing and speaking, as a calling on my life, rather than a frivolous self-indulgence. It was no longer about me and my desire for publication. It was about Him and His plan for my life. My mind had been transformed.

For weeks now, I've been focusing everyday on this passage in Romans 12. Yes, I do want to know His will for my life. What does He have for me to do today? This week? Over the next few months? What He has for me to do today may be totally different from what He has planned for me to do next year. But I can know this: If I want to know His good and pleasing and perfect will for my life, He will show me. All I have to do is be obedient. I have to offer my body as a living sacrifice, avoid conforming to the pattern of this world, and be transformed by the renewing of my mind.

That's now what I'm praying for everyday. Will you join me? Will you commit to meditating on these verses everyday and allowing Him to transform our hearts and minds?

If so, it'll be a joy to see what He has for us to do next!

*****

Congratulations to Abi B as the winner of Allison Bottke's new book, Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children. And thank you to all of you who left your comments and prayer requests. Please know that your requests have been prayed for. I hope you'll pick up a copy of Allison's book. It could change your lives and the lives of your loved ones.

And speaking of books, I'm happy to announce that my new Bitsy book is hot offbitsy_hilton_head_cover_100px the presses! Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island is now available here at my website and you can be the first to get your own signed and personalized copies!

And next week is Kudos Week-a time for you to share what God's doing in your writing life. So be sure to email me by Sunday, May 11, and let me know of a new contract, a new book or article, or anything other milestone in your writing life.

If you're attending the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, please email me your name and the names of any others you know are attending. I'd love to catch up with each of you! It's not too late to sign up and you can save $10 by telling them you're with The Christian Writer's Den Group of TEN. I know many from our group are going. I can't wait to see you there!

And here's our verse again. I pray it encourages you as you seek to know His will for your life.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

I pray God's blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,

Vonda

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18 Comments

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#1 Cynthia Lovely

Vonda,
Thank you for this message about God's will.
Some things are changing where I work and I'm not sure what the future holds and where writing fits in the picture. This
definitely ministered to me and touched my heart, bless you!
-Cynthia

#2 Robin Bryce — http://www.robinbryce.com

Yes!! I'm with you. Like many, my But... is as big as yours in your statement:

The truth is, if God has gifted us with talents and passions, He plans for us to use them for His glory. He has given each of us everything we need to pursue the plan He has for our lives. BUT (and this is a big But...) He doesn't expect us to do it all, do it all well, and do it all at the same time.

And my way, as defined by Jesus, is as yours in He will show me. All I have to do is be obedient. That sounds simple enough, but in my experience, obedience is where the big But... meets the road so to speak.

Traveling along Jesus' narrow way. Maybe one day I'll catch ya and we can walk together a while.
Love Robin

#3 Vonda Skelton

Cynthia, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I'm glad the message ministered to you today. You know, I usually write what I write because God is in the process of dealing with me on the issue, so imagine the joy when I discover that the message was also for others, too! I think that's where those verses in 2 Corinthians 1 are demonstrated--that He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others who are also going through the same thing. In other words, He uses the words He whispers to me to speak the truth to others so they can learn from it, too. And that, dear sister, is the joy of writing! I pray you find His perfect will as you walk in obedience.

And Robin, my dear sister and co-struggler...are we not two peas in a pod? Passionate, but weak. Committed, but fearful. Eager, but unfocused. Praise God, His strength is made perfect in our weak, fearful and unfocused attempts to do His work!

I pray God's blessing as you each bless others...

Vonda 

#4 Renae — http://www.renaebrumbaugh.com

Vonda, you amaze me. Your writing always touches a special place in my heart. A very wise friend once told me, If you don't know what God wants you to do next, then stand still until He tells you. I often remember that, when I struggle with knowing God's will for my life. Very often, we don't need to know the big picture. We just need to be still, and obey His voice for today, and tomorrow, and so on.

Bless you, dear sister!

--r

#5 Vonda Skelton

You are so right, Renae--and waiting is so hard for me to do! (I actually talked about that on a recent post, I do believe!) Thank you for the reminder that God doesn't always want me to "do," sometimes He wants me to "don't." How's that for good writing?!?

Love you, my friend...

Vonda 

#6 Kimberli — http://carolinatrails.blogspot.com

That's it, I'm hiring a security company to sweep the house for listening devices. Vonda Skelton, how could you expose my thoughts to the world like that. What's that you say? We're not supposed to hide our light under a bushel but allow our weaknesses to be used for God's glory? I'm trying, but God isn't doing it my way.

Another great post. As always, thanks for sharing your thoughts, which so often match my own :o)

#7 Michele

As God does so many times, I hear a sermon or attend a Bible study and the very next day I get a devotion or a blog that reinforces what I had heard the day before. Imagine my surprise when I GET HOME from Revival and there is your blog, not even an hour after leaving church.

It all starts in the mind...attitude, passion, desiring to do God's will...all of it starts in the mind. Renew my mind, Lord Jesus That is my prayer...

Thank you, my sister!
143!
Michele

#8 Vonda Skelton

Ha ha! Kimberli--you're a hoot! So I'm not the only one who struggles, huh? Thank you for your encouraging words! Can't wait to see you at the Blue Ridge Conference!

And yes, Michele, can you imagine how I felt last night when Shane Craven, a visiting pastor, opened the Bible to Romans 12? I had literally just finished my blog on Romans 12 moments before coming to church!  Think the Lord might be trying to tell me something? Hey, maybe He's trying to tell you somthing, too! I have a feeling He's trying to tell us all something, don't you?

Blessings, my dear sisters!

Vonda 

#9 Melony Brown — http://www.melonybrown.com

Vonda~
Your vivacious personality truly shows through in your writing! We've talked about this via email, but the economy is hurting those of us low-money making writers in that we might have to put it aside for a while to help earn some money for the family expenses. I'm trusting that my writing is where God's will is for me. If not, I'm committed to going wherever He leads me.

Romans 12: 1-2 has been one of my favorite passages for years. Great application to our daily lives in your blog!

Love you, Melony

#10 Vonda Skelton

Oh, thank you for your kind words, Melony. I appreciate you!

Yes, many of us are in the same boat. Wanting to write, not making any money at writing, having something to say but needing to work to generate income, not having time to write because of responsibilities...

We WOULD go crazy if we couldn't depend on God to lead and direct us. Praise God He can use our words at the right time and in the right place and under the right circumstances. And He's the only One who knows what those "rights" really are.  

Blessings,

Vonda 

#11 Jenny Cote — http://www.jennycote.com

Hey Vonda,

Girl, you just bless my socks off with every word you write! Thank you so much for these thoughts this week - awesome. And congratulations on your new Bitsy book! I'm so excited for you and look forward to snatching that up! I thank God for how he is using you in big and small ways, and for your pliable spirit to go where he says go, write what he says to write, and when he says jump you reply, how high, God?!

Love ya,
Jenny

#12 Vonda Skelton

Oh, Jenny, I only wish I were that obedient! I'm afraid I'm often saying, "You want me to do WHAT?"

Thanks for writing.

Love you!

V 

 

#13 Emme Gannon

My dear Vonda:

Thank you for your inciteful words. I copied Romans 12:1-2 and have it tacked over my desk. I will meditate on it each day and know the Lord will have something to say about His will for my life!

Blessings,
Emme

#14 Vonda Skelton

Thank you for your note, Emme. I know that God has something very special for you. It's going to be a joy to see what He does! ;-)

Blessings,

Vonda 

#15 Ann Wayne

Vonda,

Thanks for this great article. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one struggling with all the things that God is calling me to do. And I know writing is one of them. Dear God, just help me balance the rest of it so I can focus on writing.

Be blessed,
Ann Wayne

#16 Vonda Skelton

Hi Ann! From the feedback I'm getting on the blog and in my email, this is a major concern for most of us writer-types. Since writing is a creative process, we tend to be creative in other areas, too--and most of them are ministry-focused efforts. All great things to do for the kingdom!

But I have to remind myself that God doesn't expect us to do them all...and do them all well...all at the same time. 

Can't wait to see you at Blue Ridge!

Blessings,

Vonda 

#17 Janet Roller — http://www.janetroller.blogspot.com

Vonda-
This post was exactly what I needed one week before the Blue Ridge Christian Writers' Conference! I plan to attend at least one of your sessions. Although I have lived in NC since Sept. 2006, I am a SC girl!
Can't wait to meet you!
-Janet

#18 Vonda Skelton

Hi Janet, my new SC friend! I'm so glad to see you here and look forward to actually meeting you at Blue Ridge. Be sure to introduce yourself, okay?

I'm glad this entry was encouraging to you. It's amazing how the words I need to read and meditate on are often the same words others need to hear, too!

Can't wait to see you next week!

Blessings,

Vonda 

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