Created for Good Works
By Delia Talent
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship”
When I became a Christian at age twelve, I failed to grasp what God had in store for me beyond salvation. I knew commitment to serving the Lord should follow conversion, but the concept remained abstract for me.
How can a human serve Someone they can’t see?
Over the years, I struggled to find my calling and left a series of successes and failures behind me. Then, about twelve-years ago, the desire to fulfill my dream of writing a novel burned in my heart. The door to publication seemed closed. And I felt trapped working at a difficult job as a social worker. It was hard to watch other people walking in their life purposes while I languished in a state of frustration. I kept seeking the Lord, pleading for a breakthrough, until the door opened and I could finally write my book.
With God leading the process, I assumed the road would be smooth. I expected to write great books, become successful, and leave a legacy behind for my children. I also thought I’d earn enough money to leave my current job and write full-time. Basically, I defined success by the world’s standards and based my career and happiness on them. Of course, the path wasn’t that simple. I wrote profusely and produced works I’m proud of but, over time and the course of many challenges, God changed my understanding of why He gifted me (and you) with writing and what He expects from His creative children.
Romans 12:1 reminds us that our bodies belong to God and that our actions matter because they reflect on Him. And, when done properly—in submission to Him—the works we produce can be considered acts of worship. Meditating on this scripture can center us.
God cares whether or not we fulfill our life’s purpose. He loves us! Our role is to allow Him to move through every aspect of our lives, including our writing. In His hands, our humble offerings become powerful tools of transformation and healing in a needy, broken world.
Father, help us to trust You with our lives, our futures, and our gifts and talents. Holy Spirit, help us to effectively use our abilities to bring honor and glory to our Father in heaven, while being agents of change to those around us. Amen.
Delia Talent is a pseudonym for Dyane Forde and fronts Forde’s ministry-related work. Talent hosts the Christian Creative Nexus blog and social media sites, is a writer, author, blogger, mentor, and small group leader with a passion for exhorting Christian Creatives to actively pursue their creative calling. For more on the Christian Creative Nexus visit https://deliatalent.wordpress.com/.
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