Many people tried to invent an airplane prior to the Wright Brothers. Some of the experiments were downright funny. We laugh when we see the homemade wings and people flapping their arms as they jump from a roof.As writers, we sometimes slip from the hard work/trusting God mode into the striving/trusting our own strength and abilities mode. We rush around, try to imitate everyone else, and forget that God has a unique plan for our lives. Our bodies and minds send signals that we're burning out. Discouragement, frustration, depression, and physical symptoms bombard us. They're screaming, "Pay attention. You're flapping your arms."
Father, when we get wrapped up in our own plans, in our own way of doing things, please give us a gentle reminder to stop and consider our actions.
What an encouraging post today, Susan and what a great word picture. Sometimes we do run around flapping instead of relying on His strength to keep us soaring.
ReplyDeleteOh how much I needed to read your post this morning! Thank you for ministering to me and blessing me!
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. :-) Very true and a good lesson for me today.
Hi Jess -
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's a lesson I wish would stick with me. I get tired going around the same old mountain.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Donna -
ReplyDeleteThe Lord knows exactly what we need and when. This post was written over a week ago and scheduled. :)
I'm glad it ministered to you.
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Jody -
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the post spoke to your heart. Whenever I get stressed about the mechanics and business of writing, I know I'm setting myself up for failure. The same holds true for other areas of my life.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Susan:
ReplyDeleteYes, a very good description of what we can sometimes find ourselves doing.
Susan:
ReplyDeleteYou are so wise!
When I told the Lord, "Writing is what I want to do with my life," His immediate reply in my heart was "you can't get there by yourself."
--Jen
Hi Jen -
ReplyDeleteI once heard a minister say, "If you can accomplish a task in your own strength, God didn't tell you to do it."
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Quiet Spirit -
ReplyDeleteToo often, I've tried to achieve goals in my own strength. When I call out to Him, He graciously picks me up and dusts me off. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Oh how right you are. I must confess that I've been doing a lot of flapping of my arms lately. I think your post was the Lord's way of telling me to stop and let Him be God. Silly me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'll try posting again! LOL It disappeared:) But wanted to say I tend to flap my own wings too much without seeing what God wants of me. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteHi Terri -
ReplyDeleteOops, I've had that happen to me on occasion. :)
You're welcome. Sometimes we try until we almost faint. When we come to the end of ourselves, the Lord smiles and says, "it's about time you realized you can't do this without Me."
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteI think the Lord's been trying to get through to all of us. We're taught to be independent and self-sufficient, but we soon learn there's many situations where only God can bring success.
Blessings,
Susan :)