There has been so much grace poured out to me in this new (lockdown) season. With a 15 month old and being 8 months pregnant, I have felt God beckon me to draw deeper into a season of writing.
This is something I started in Grade 11 – 17 years ago. Since then I have filled more journals than I can remember. It became the one place I knew I would hear God as my pen poured out the prayers on my heart. God never failed to respond as His Holy Spirit began to use these times of writing to lead me into the depths of God’s love, greater revelation of who He is and how He is working, shifting earthly perspective toward His Kingdom and highlighting truth through His word that often brought the freedom I was seeking. First in prayer and then in areas of my life I was trusting Him for breakthrough. Just as prayer is a constant two way conversation between me and God, my writing became that secret place where I would meet Him face to face. I never imagined I would be sharing that with others.
“My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer.” Psalm 45:1
Hear the call and respond
I have received words of encouragement over the years about writing and how God wanted me to write; a constant reminder that it is always intimacy that is on His heart for us… to draw deeper with Him, to be hearing and responding to His voice, to be walking in even deeper revelation of our identity in Him. If I can somehow encourage others to walk closer with Him in this way through sharing what is placed on my own heart, I pray that He would both take the lead in what I share and use it to speak to others.
I haven’t written much in the past year but on the 1st of February this year, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to write again. In the past month I have written almost every day. This has caused such a significant shift in my own walk with Him, teaching me that all God needs is just a moment of our attention turned toward Him and He will respond!
Pray against distractions
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” James 4:8
The enemy has one major hold on our generation… distraction. Some might say “busyness” but I believe we are distracted into busyness. We are distracted from the presence of God and even from each other, causing us to live in a virtual world that is so disconnected on so many levels! If only we would put down our phones and re-wire our brains to work like they did in simpler times. Maybe we would call each other more often. Maybe we would show up at each other’s houses because the latest trend is to have an open door policy. Maybe we would notice more … how the early morning light shines through the trees, how the birds wake up singing; igniting a desire in our own hearts to pull back the curtains, let the light in, breath in the cool fresh morning air and sing our own song of glory and praise. I think we would feel more ready for the day, more aware of God’s voice speaking, and less focused on all that distracts us from what is most important.
Sometimes I get a few minutes in the morning to write, sometimes just one sentence of surrender and sometimes God gives me over an hour as my little one amazingly sleeps in longer that morning. It has honestly been a gift every day to give God those moments. I have received more from Him this past month through His Spirit revealing truth than I have in a really long time. We sometimes hang onto words God spoke to us months ago when He has fresh bread waiting for us every morning!
“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6;11
Take action – respond to His beckoning!
The amazing thing is, within three weeks of the first entry, Robyn from CBN sent me a message asking if I would be keen to write for them.
As I write I see a mandate is being formed. God is calling me to stand guard through intercession for my family, my marriage, my children and my community. He is stirring my heart to be swimming in deeper waters, no longer satisfied by wading around in the shallows. There is revelation to be received and revelation to be shared. He is calling me out of hiding, out of the shadows to shine the light He has placed in me.
Today I want to encourage you to see where God is calling you deeper, where he is leading you in His presence and intimacy. God wants to get you fresh revelation and He desires to spend time with you!
Written by Taytum Allwood.
