I recently had some of my website followers tell me that during this Shelter in Place time that they are making their first attempts at writing devotionals.
I think that is so fantastic. If you are just starting with writing devotionals, I’m talking a little about that today, and sharing a download for an article I wrote several years ago. Hopefully it will encourage you to get started.
I have been writing since I was a kid. I started with poems first. I was writing little poems when I was like in 1st grade, and my writing consisted of not much of a vocabulary I am sure. My oldest brother, Tim, wrote poetry. He passed away in a camp canoeing trip to Canada when I was 9 years old, but when I was little, he would read his poetry to me. I can remember him telling me when I was really young, “Julia, you can do this. Anybody can write poetry.” That always stuck with me I guess.
For the longest time I wrote short stories and poems. They weren’t for sharing with anyone, just maybe a few of my English teachers. I had this English teacher in the 9th and 10th grade, Mrs. Ziegler in Trimble, Ohio. She was fantastic! She is one of the reasons I kept on writing. She was such an encouragement. So wherever you are, thank you Mrs. Ziegler! It’s been so long, I’m not even sure if her name is spelled right.
Here I am in my 50’s and still at this writing thing. I’m totally amazed that I have four devotional collections compiled and have my first book out on women’s ministry as well. I always wanted to be a children’s author when I was growing up, and who knows! I may still work that in too.
So, I’m telling you, just like my brother told me about poetry—You can do this. Anybody can write devotionals! Devotionals are something that comes from your heart. It’s that connecting with the Lord and what He has just for you, and then just sharing it with other people.
I’m not suggesting you write them for publishing in a book somewhere, but we are to share encouragement with other Christians, and what we learn from the Bible and what blessings God gives us is a great way to do that. How God works in our hearts can be used to encourage and uplift others in the Lord.
I have had ladies tell me that they have a hard time talking to other Christian ladies about something God spoke to them about, even though they felt led to. I think sometimes when we are shy or it’s not our personality to just start conversations that it can be hard. I used to be really shy too and talking or sharing was always a battle, but after I started writing devotionals, sharing my thoughts became easier. Just writing things down in a little bit of a form can help us if we struggle with this, but sharing what God does for us is a big part of going deeper than surface encouragement.
Remember that sharing with his family and friends was what Jesus said for the man to do that was healed of the demons in the graveyard in Luke 8.
“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.” Luke 8:38-39
If you struggle with just getting started, I suggest you get a journal. A blank notebook will do. Then as you have your quiet time or read your Bible every day, just jot down some things that spoke to you. Write out phrases in verses that stood out to you. Record things in your journal that really touched you, or even made you think about something else. Write out any quotes that came to your mind. Write out any blessings in your life that reading that passage made pop into your head. If the passage you read in the Bible brought any struggles you have had to your mind, be sure to write down a note about it.
Later on you can go back and really dwell on those things to help you get your thoughts percolating, and maybe then your words will start flowing on paper.
The next thing you know, you will be sharing your blessings with others face to face. You will be spreading the blessings and insights that God has blessed you with a little at a time. Those words can be a real encouragement to others. That’s what our testimonies are all about—sharing what God has done for us with others.
You might not ever share your devotional from a ladies meeting podium, on a blog, or even in a book, but you can use it to form your thoughts to share encouragement to others, just by having it written down. Everyone isn’t going to write a devotional book. That’s not what the Lord is going to lay on everyone’s heart or not what the Holy Spirit will lead in every person, but you don’t have to write a book to share what God has for you.
Your job might be to share with another lady or two over coffee. Your job might to be to bring up something God taught you during the question and answer time of a Sunday School class. Your job might be to encourage someone through writing a letter and sharing your blessings. Your job might be to share during a testimony time in your church.
Look at that man in Luke 8. He wanted to go with the disciples and be with Jesus as He went on his way, but that wasn’t that man’s place. Jesus wanted that man to go home. He wanted that man to spread the word of what God had done for him on his own turf.
I think sometimes, especially with social media and the internet so much in our face, that we get these grand ideas that we want to be somebody. We want to start a business. We want to start a blog. We want to be a woman’s speaker. We want to write a book. Not that any of us can’t reach for great goals, but we each have to listen to the Holy Spirit and what the Lord has for us individually. What God wants for others isn’t always for us. Sometimes, just like the man in Luke 8, God just wants us to go home and share what the Lord is doing in our lives with those whom we are in daily contact.
Never underestimate what just talking and communicating with others on an individual basis can do. It’s amazing to see how God can start little fires of revival when we are sharing what the Lord gives us right where we are. (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:29; Hebrews 10:23-25)
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Have you ever tried your hand at devotional writing? Let me know over on my Julia Bettencourt Ramblings Facebook Page.
Have a lovely day,
Julia
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