Hearing the Word

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, this is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (New King James Version)

Several years ago I began writing and sending out email devotionals. From the first moment that I jotted down a paragraph of thoughts in a notebook to what I am writing this morning I have experienced God’s guidance and voice. He has let me know when changes needed to be made and when items needed to be added. He has changed my view and reasoning for why the devotionals are even shared. I have come to trust His heart as well as His leading.

From time to time, I have been asked by individuals whether or not I would consider getting a devotional book published. The desire has been there but so has the hesitancy. My greatest fear has been with the publishing world itself. I have the impression that publishers only consider the works of those who have a “name” as well as an established ministry. Because I have no public platform the impossibility of it all has kept me frozen in my tracks.

Once again, I have heard His word to me and I now know what it is He wants me to do. He wants me to venture into a world I know little of and take steps of faith I have never taken before. It requires leaving my comfort zone of what I have done so far, and simply taking this one step of obedience. All He is telling me to do is contact publishers with a book proposal. That’s it! Does it mean a book will be published? I don’t know. That is up to God. What it does mean is that I must do what He is leading me to do and I must leave the results with Him. It doesn’t matter if all I get back are rejection letters. That may or may not happen. What matters is that my faith in Him is developed and my spiritual muscles are strengthened.

As with any area of life, God is often after something that needs to be changed or developed in us. Discouragement and confusion set in when we misunderstand what He is saying and where He is leading. This is not about a book. This is about my relationship with Him. He wants me to see Him as one who can be trusted and safely followed. He wants to show me how much of an adventure a walk of faith can be. I don’t have to know the future or the end of the story. I just need to know Him.

Father, I don’t know what You have in mind for me but I know what it is You want me to do. You have spoken. I have heard. I will obey. By Your grace, amen.

God Will Make a Way - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOjYR8UZT8&NR=1

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16