Warrior Truth: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2 v 10 (ESV)
I am fortunate to work in an industry and organisation that has been able to adjust to working remotely during this pandemic with relative ease. Working from home was not a difficult adjustment. Working from home with the rest of the household also captive under the same roof, a more challenging proposition. This has meant juggling the completion of multiple project deliverables, several virtual meetings a day, trying to keep up with the housework and the provision of educational support for my Grade 2 daughter. I am not sure I would have survived without a supportive family and community. We are all in this together and for the most part, people are sympathetic to the daily challenges we are all facing.
There is something else remarkable happening – a movement, a revolution of sort – and it is connecting communities like I have never seen before. People are seeking out like-minded communities, offering amazing opportunities to nurture creativity and calling or build knowledge and networks, and challenging people to step out of their comfort zones and set aside their excuses. One such challenge I signed up for was the 33:3 Challenge for Christian artists which caught my attention at a time when God was stirring this desire within me. The challenges, the teaching and the heartfelt sharing from so many of the participants have pierced my world, etching the answer to the age-old question of purpose that has been in the forefront of my mind of late.
Warrior Tool: For our purpose to be fulfilled, we need to be using the tools we have. God’s promises are our tools. His gifts to us are our tools. Not because of who we are but because of who He is. But somehow, instead of picking up His promises to light to the path and instead of working on sharpening my skills, I have picked up insecurity, doubt, disappointment, anxiety, fear, distrust (and many others). These have become obstacles in my path blocking the light and direction of His promises and excuses stopping me from developing my gifts. I am challenging myself to put down these weights and burdens and to pick up God’s promises, to tune into the Spirit and to trust that which He has called me to be and to do (and is wanting me to walk in!). I am challenging myself to stop apologising for what He has given me! He has confirmed His promises so many times. I have no reason to doubt but every reason to seek Him for the right place, the right moment, the right audience and even the right collaboration. And until all those ‘rights’ line up, I am going to do what I can to grow my skill set so that I am ready when He says write, sing, dance, play.
Prayer: Creator God, author and finisher of our faith, you alone are worthy of all praise and all honour. We long to praise you with every creative expression that you have gifted us with. Spirit of God consume our insecurities, our doubts, our fears – burn them up so that they no longer hold us captive. Fan into flame those gifts you have imparted in us. Bury the desire to walk in the good works prepared for us so deeply in our hearts, that we would not grow weary of pursuing what you have for us. Open our eyes and our ears so that we might see and hear You above all else. We choose to be your workmanship in this world, courageously stepping into the good works you have prepared for us. Amen
With God, For His Glory