There is a distinct difference between our dreams and God’s plans for His purposes in this world.
I cringe when I see Christians sharing memes that say Dream Bigger.
God created us to be in an eternal relationship with Him, loving, listening, obeying. Heaven is not a store in which we can drive-up and get what we want, even if our intentions are good.
Our big dreams, if they align with His will, are blessed. Not only blessed but God will use us to accomplish Kingdom purposes, bringing more healing to His people and draw more to Himself.
When I first started walking with Jesus, I boasted about my planning brain. I could multi-task, long-range and short-range plan for our entire family with my eyes closed.
Until I learned His thoughts and His ways are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9)… not just sometimes, every time. Every single thought we have on our own weighs very little compared with the perfect thoughts of God.
“God wants us to follow Him, not just some plan” (Experiencing God by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude King, p.157).
I am certain God planted book(s) inside my heart, to be written in His timing.
When I was young, I wrote stories on notebook paper, illustrated them with colored pencil and stapled the sheets together. A seventh-grade English teacher was going to help me get one published. The Lion that Had no Mane never was professionally published, though I think I still have the hand-made version. Looking back, I know it wasn’t the will of God for me to be a published author before I knew Him … before I understood He is the true Author.
Will I be a published author in this lifetime? If the book I write is within His will and pre-destined purpose for my life.
Nothing, zip, zero can thwart what He has purposed. ALL things God plans will be fulfilled. (Isaiah 14:27).
Now 50, I sit here, knowing there are book(s) inside of me.
I have not mistaken His will or misheard my call to write.
So what is stopping me?
I have narrowed it down to 4 things:
- Fear to succeed. What will it mean if people seek after my book? I want them to seek God not me. What kind of pressure will I be under to write the second book if the first one is “successful”?
- Unbelief, that the story God is writing in my little ole life is book-worthy.
- Writing about your life is messy. Writing about past pain can trigger memories and/or bring up the hopelessness you have overcome.
- Writing is lonely. I do not currently have a critique group, nor have I found one in which I fit. I believe God wants me to rely fully and wholly upon Him to write this first book. In fact every group I have been in, He has pulled me out.
There used to be more reasons not to write.
I am thankful I have the list paired down to four.
If you are here, and you are also called by God to write, keep the faith.
Nothing is too hard for God:
Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you (Jeremiah 32:17).
No enemy attack~
No doubt~
No fear~
No writer’s block~
… will stop God from accomplishing His will through the book He called you to write.
God is always and forever victorious. Thank you, Jesus!
Stand firm upon this truth.
Don’t forget to open your eyes to whom He has placed in your path for support:
Jason, my loving husband, said recently, “I want to see a book with your name on it.”
Stacey, my sister in Christ, said in this past year, “I can’t wait to read your book.”
Several others have encouraged me.
It is time to dive in, heart first.
As I do, please forgive me if I read less of your blogs in the meantime. I will continue to blog and spend 1-2 days a week here in the bloggerverse. However, I have to make adjustments in my life to finish the first manuscript and complete a book proposal.
May you be my witnesses that I will pray each day before I write, listening for His direction.
May you be my witnesses that I will continue writing until the first draft is complete.
If you are unsure whether God has called you to write a book, please reach out. His will is a mystery sometimes, but if He wants to accomplish something in your life He will let you know.
If you want to pray each other along this journey, please reach out.
If you have any feedback for me after reading this post, I am all ears and thank you in advance.
~~~
“This what the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The day is coming’, declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring back my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:2-3).
~~~
Thank you for joining me here today. So many more thoughts, but this is what the Lord wanted me to share. He knows there are others like me out there, who have not finished the first book He has called you to write. We can look at it like a tough spot, or like one full of opportunity.
Feel free to start a conversation here or email me directly at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com.
All photos in this post are from Pixabay.com.
May Our Lord bless you and keep you today.
Love in Christ,
Julie
https://faithhopeandpoetry.blog
https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him
https://Instagram.com/jayjule03
Amen………..
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Thank you so much dear Wendi!
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absolutely 🙂
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Amen. joining you in prayer, Dear Sister, and so thankful that He has given you guidance to go forward. Love and blessings for you!
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Thank you SO much dear Bettie. Your encouragement and prayers mean a lot to me, and He hears. Love 💘you, Julie
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Yep, I’m right here with you. I have been mostly off then on with the revisions of my manuscript; ugh! I take courage from this post, and agree to pray through with you. Thank you for your prayers and sensitivity to what He has for you to do and to share. Blessings to you dear, Julie. ♥♥
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Jacquie, I praise His all-knowingness. Truth be told, I didn’t want to write this post. I feel there are some I have met along the way who just don’t or wont believe I will ever write this first book. But God. Face your fears with Him, and He will lift you and connect you with others. I am thankful you shared this about your manuscript. Let’s pray for each other. What He wills in His purpose for His people will be completed, however He defines that. May God give you manna for today sister. Love in Christ, Julie
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Thank you Julie, I am blessed and encouraged by your words. Linking in prayer is powerful and I am blessed to share in what God will do, and is doing on behalf of those who desire to be in His perfect will, and words. Peace, joy, and hope to you sister.
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This is really encouraging for me. I know God told me to write about hope. He never said, a book, he never said be published, he never said anything about money. He told me to write about hope. He didn’t say stories, biographies, fiction or non-fiction. He has given me glimpses of all of that. In poetry, in personal experiences, in fictional stories, in songs. I even started a children’s book. He never said to me to use His exact words or quote Bible verses. I have done all of that. But His hope and who He is can be expressed in so many different ways. He doesn’t write His name across the sky, but His glory is expressed and revealed in the heavens, in the sun, moon and stars.
So yes, I know to write. I am not dreaming bigger. How can I dream bigger than His plans for me? Why would I want to? I just want to be who He created me to be.
I wait and listen and obey the best I can by His grace!
I will pray as you write Julie. This is your time!! Enjoy it and be blessed in it!!
I am 66 years old. He didn’t speak this to me until I was 60!
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Love this Mary. Yes, dreams are folly unless He plants them. I cannot thank you enough for those prayers and the encouragement, dear Mary. For me this first book is another lesson in embracing the mess, that He won’t leave me, and in the process He will make something beautiful.
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Write, girl, write! 😊 I feel your urge and your concerns.
Yes, I have a book. I got this grand idea for a trilogy, perhaps even a series of four. I wrote the first one, edited, completed. I did some basic outlining and character sketches for all of them. Then a grinding halt. Nothing. I have no drive or desire to jump back into it, although the characters remain in my heart. We’ll see if the Lord wants me to do anything with it…
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Thank you Kathy for cheering me on! I will keep your series in prayer. When God plants things in our hearts, it is most often for the long haul 🙂
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Yes, I am. I’ve been writing/editing it for YEARS… 😏
I echo the 4 things + 1 = 5 [fear of hurting/offending others when I tell my story on paper].
BUT, the Lord told me to write, so I shall persevere!!! 📓📝💻📚
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Good afternoon, Jodi. So thankful to know I am not alone in this. I can understand #5. There may be some of that for me as well. Yes, when He tells, commands, leads, we listen, obey and follow. Adding you to my prayer list for the book completion. Love in Christ, Julie
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Julie, I appreciate your candor about writing a book. You have allowed your journey with God to prepare the way. I know you will give him all the praise with each step you take.
When I retired from teaching in 2018, I knew I needed to find a new calling. God’s light has led the way with my writing journey, and He has called me to write Christian poetry as part of my collection. I dream of publishing an anthology of selected poems and short stories. Like you, I have been waiting patiently. This will be in God’s hands.
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Oh wow! Richard, please keep me posted. If you don’t mind, I will add you to my prayers, specifically lifting up your writing and the future anthology.
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Thank you so much for sharing sister. Been praying for those of us who need to go that next step in this process!
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