Re-Awaken the Dream ~ Write it!

I can’t tell you how many people I have talked to who have shared they want to write a book. I see the excitement in their eyes until I ask them why they haven’t written it yet. The reasons range from not feeling qualified to write to being unsure if anyone would read their work. What happens then is the dream lays dormant and often goes unfulfilled.

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work” (Colin Powell). I shared this quote because I believe many think writing is something that happens magically, and the words appear on the pages flawlessly and perfectly phrased by the author. This can be intimidating when you know this is not how writing works for you. The truth is every writer must edit and read their work, again and again, to get it just the way they desire. Writing requires dedication and re-writes.

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe” (Gail Devers).[1] There are some key points in this quote that I want to share with you today to help you reawaken the dream God placed in you.

• Faith – I believe writing is a gift from God and He knows His plans for each of us. The key is for us to understand what to do with this gift. To gain that knowledge we need to go back to the gift giver. We must have trust in God to fulfill His vision and dreams in us. When is the last time you asked God what He wanted to do with your writing? When is the last time you sat at His feet with your pen and pad and just wrote what He told you to write? It’s time to do that again (or for the first time). I go and listen first to God to have confidence that what I am writing is what He has already blessed.

 

• Belief in yourself – This is one of our greatest hindrances, the lack of belief in our ability. Being very transparent, I don’t think I am a good technical writer. I am very visional (that’s the seer in me). So, I write as one friend calls it, flowery words. Knowing my shortcomings, I get help. I constantly write so that I can get better. I continued to get educated, which required me to do extensive writing. I edit work, mine and others, all the time to help me catch those easily overlooked mistakes. And in the process, I also pray and ask God to help me stay encouraged the waiting process for my work to bloom. Until you are confident in yourself, others won’t be either. When is the last time you shared some of your work with someone to get an honest critic? Try it.

 

• Vision – This aligns itself with faith. You need to have trust in the one that gives the vision. Otherwise, you won’t try to fulfill it. Additionally, once you have the vision, you need to ask God for the strategies to fulfill the vision. What are your next steps? What things do you need to do to begin the process? He will make it plain for you to run with it (Hab. 2:2-3).

 

• Hard work – God does His part. He gives you the gift, the vision, and the strategies to fulfill it. Now it’s your turn. You must make the decision to do the work. It takes determination and dedication. You must be sure of what you are seeking to accomplish, and then you must dedicate the time to your writing to make it what it needs to be. I write daily. If it’s not on a book, it’s a post (which I edit) or something that encourages. And when I am not writing, I am reading. Both of these are important to the writer. Are you setting a schedule to write? If you don’t plan to write, you won’t write. It is that simple.

Let me leave you with this Scripture:
Romans 8:28 NLT ~ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

If we put in the work to develop our craft as a writer, we must have the faith that God will work all our efforts (and even our setbacks) for His purpose. That’s the key here, our gift as writers is not to build ourselves, but to work according to God’s plan. Go ahead, step out in faith and allow Him to reawaken the writer’s anointing inside of you! It’s time to bloom!
 
Prayer: Father, reawaken the vision inside of your sons and daughters. Many of put the dream on hold because of doubt of fear. Some have become discouraged. Others don’t see the ability in themselves. Whatever the reason, God help us to reawaken in us your vision. Give us the strategies and plans so we can run boldly with passion and purpose on this journey as the writer. Bring the resources, the finances and the recognition needed so we can share what You have for us to share. We honor You today and say thank you. In Jesus name, Amen.
 
[1] Brainy Quotes. The quote from Colin Powell and Gail Devers was cited from BrainyQuotes.com.   https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/dreams

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