Develop the habits to become a heart ready for response.
Christian writers hold more responsibility than other writers just telling
stories. Each one of us should be
prepared to give a response about the Who that directs the words and the why
behind the need to share them. It is not just about a Christian message within
the words, but the heart behind their creation.
Getting a Heart Ready for Response
Be ready to answer - Know why you do what you do. Some
writers are in it for the money and others are in it to make a difference. Make
a list of the reasons behind your actions. Let the list build a vision sentence
that sums up what you want others to see and know about your writing abilities.
Be ready to pray – Comments from readers and those that want
to begin their own writing journey often come with hurts, habits or hang-ups
that need healing. Being in a place where those pains are presented to you will
require a heart ready (and even eager) to cover that pain with a touch of
prayer.
Be ready to encourage – The world drags down the heart and
enthusiasm of those that dare to walk through it. Daily doses of inspiration
and motivation can be the difference between a heart that stumbles on and a
heart that stumbles and quits. Meeting those people – through the written words
or personal appearances – means that you may be the only one that can offer the
courage they need to be hearts that push through.
Be ready to stop – Reaching out to others may not be
convenient for your timeline or schedule. It takes practice to live out the
idea to “Love God – Love others,” especially when a deadline looms on the
horizon. The time invested in holding out a hand to another will return an
interest that could never be found another way.
Be ready to listen – There are so many needs in the world,
and no single person can fill them all. Each person has been given a time, a
season and a purpose. The only way to know yours is to know the Weaver on a
personal and intimate basis. Listen to the directions that He gives you and
then follow through on His directives.
Words have power – even those that are “just telling a
story.” The Christian has been called to go to all the world and share the good
news. Begin to come to a place where the One that created the good news is the
One that directs your words and actions. Soon, you will become a heart ready to
respond to the needs of those that you encounter.
