Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105
Sometimes Psalms is a wonderful place to be. David kept it ‘real’. Psalms 119 seems to have it all in the way of a heart being ‘poured out’. David models what our hearts should do in prayer. Bringing EVERYTHING before Him. Adoring Him. Confessing before Him. Praising and thanking Him. Entreating Him with our deepest needs. When you go HARD after God first thing in the morning — it sets you in a better mode of greeting what may come your way. For over the last year I have sat here in front of my computer asking the Lord what He wants me to write… searching His heart and mine. The devotional has become “our time” first thing in the morning. I pray some of what we (the Lord and I) have wrestled through has been blessing to you.
I know that very soon I will be taking a break from writing this devotional and concentrating on writing the sequels to the novels the Lord has given me. There is certainly enough devotionals here to keep one busy for over a year …. and maybe spur their own writing before and with Him. I may gather the best 365 devotionals from this exercise and put them into a print book with engagement questions. Tell me what you think in the comments. Were there any that you feel really need to be in it?
Many topics written here have been hard. As so many were convicting to this writer. I strive to set myself before Him .. to learn from Him. As He has opened things to my understanding — the feeling of shock of realizing there is SO MUCH MORE has overtaken me many times. True spiritual understanding ALWAYS brings humility. The paradox of realizing that as He guides you into His places — the expansion is ALWAYS beyond what you could have ever imagined. And you realize you ‘know’ VERY little. “Further up and further in!”, as CS Lewis wrote in The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia).
I’ve come to realize in greater and greater ways of my love for stories and fictional writing. Jesus was also a fantastic ‘story teller’. The Father and Holy Spirit direct and inspire our imaginations to heights we never though possible. I so look forward for the adventures awaiting us in His heavenly Kingdom! But for now — till He calls me to shed this earth suit — I’ll work hard to bring stories that inspire to know God in more intimate ways. Stories that highlight the work of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives.
So thank you readers for going on this ride with me. I hope you will also read the novels. Eutychus / Terminally Committed To Christ — will soon be released. I want to make sure there will be a free E-book available of Eutychus to anyone who wants to the read novel. Writing with Him has become one of my greatest joys.
Always keep pressing to know Him (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit) more!
J Pauls.