Two years ago, I was praying with God for Him to help me start a ministry. I had just finished ministering inside prisons for seven years, then was called out by the Lord to start a writing ministry. I got diverted preaching at a church for over a year, but then He had me leave there too.
But I couldn’t write. I had writer’s block. I was concerned to speak of the things of God I have learned and experienced, worried that I would be rejected and not reach a greater audience. I thought a watered-down message would help more people, even if it was not as potent. I was wrong.
These words written below are from two conversations I had with God during this time. A month after these conversations I stepped into the ministry He had called me into.
I want to encourage you to step into your ministry. Do not worry what people think of you. Do not try to do ministry on your own effort. If He called you to it, He will make a way.
Writer’s block is a natural condition. You cannot serve in the Spirit using your natural abilities.
Don’t worry if people don’t believe you, they don’t believe Me either.
Men of renown have written volumes on all the revelation they have received. But other men who read these revelations cannot receive them because they are still trying to read in the dark. They must get in the light to see, and it is there revelation will begin.
Only the Father can “…give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know…” (Ephesians 1:17-18 KJV).
Never confuse intellectual discovery with revelation. The intellectual comes by man, but revelation is only by the Holy Spirit.
We don’t need a thousand more preachers, but five that are completely surrendered to Christ.
If you ever wonder whether you yourself could be one of the great followers of Christ, remember this, He chose from the bottom that He would confuse those on high. It is never where you have raised yourself to, but to Whom you have kneeled yourself down to.
“But God chose those whom the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise…” (1 Corinthians 1:27 TPT).
No matter what you do for Christ, there will be those who refuse to believe. Do not set the limits of your ministry on what others would believe, but only on that which the Lord has given you to do.
If Moses set the limits on the vision of man, the nation of Israel would have perished by the Red Sea.
Lord, help me. Help me to pour out. Not to be something of myself, but to be something used by You.
I will never accomplish anything on my own power.
Jesus taught us, “…As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless” (John 15:5 TPT).
I will never complete anything with Holy Spirit power using my own strength.
If I don’t fall to my knees, and weep with all my soul, there is nothing that You can do with me.
Nothing is impossible for You, God.
“For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37 AMP).
If I but place myself into your control, then You can pour through that.
It is my constant attempts at doing things myself that prevent anything from being done at all.
It is like trying to save myself. The harder I try, the farther I become from God. But let me give up trying, and rely upon Christ alone, and then watch the angels come to my side as the Father unleashes the power of heaven to help me.
I cannot keep going down a path in which I consider it of my own clever thinking that I might find my way. I will never find my way because only He knows my way.
“Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed” (Psalm 139:16 CJB).
I cannot continue thinking on how man might receive whatever I would write, and instead only write that which God would have me say.
If I base what I write on man’s acceptance, barely a word could be spoken, and still someone will be arguing it is wrong.
I will not struggle when once I surrender.
All my striving is the hindrance that prevents the Lord.
“…It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Zechariah 4:6 NLT).
Surrendering is never accomplished with effort.
God is not looking for helpers, but for those humble enough to accept His help.
I pray that you would be encouraged to step into the ministry the Lord is calling you into, by His power.
Blessings to you,
Paul
Thank you! I needed this encouragement to get back to working on my second book. Please pray for God to anoint me for the work He has called me to do.
God’s ways are not our ways, it is so hard to remember that in every day life. In my prayer life I make declarations and promises to God and then in daily life question the voice of God telling me to speak to one who needs Him and by doing so, appear a fool. Oh wretched woman that I am! I do what I don’t want to and don’t do what I want to!
How do I walk in faith in this world? How do I become bold in faith?
I think the only way to have more faith in our walk is to pray to the Lord to give it to us. Luke 17:5 “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.” I think we need to just keep asking Him, and I can tell you He will answer this prayer.
To be more bold in your faith stop worrying what man thinks of you. As you do this you will find a confidence in the Lord and what He can do through you. When I started preaching I was afraid I would trip as i can be clumsy. So I would start out my message saying I am clumsy, but if i fell down and it in turn caused someone to turn to Christ forever, well, I don’t care if i am the fool.
Your welcome! This was my prayer that I could encourage someone to take even one step forward into what God has already put on their heart. Praying for His anointing to be upon you and guide every step of the way!
I like the saying “It is my constant attempts at doing things myself that prevents anything from being done at all”, and feel that God may remind anyone of this – especially me – at any time. God bless you.
Thank you so much. This word I wrote a few years ago was a great thing for me to read now, I needed the reminder. Our Lord is so perfect in His timing to remind us when we need it.
Dear Paul I have these dreams in my heart one is having pray meetings on a Saturday night at my church we don’t have a prayer meeting on Saturday. Also a bus ministry for children. I don’t know if this is from Holy Spirit or my self. I know I can never do anything in my own sell. Because I am nothing I can do nothing. What suggestion for can you give me. Thank you for the many blogs that you have written. That Lord Jesus bless you and may the precious Holy Spirit of God continue to lead you and give you revelation. Your writing is great.
Angela
Hi Angela, that is so wonderful, these both sound like such wonderful ministries that the Lord has placed into your heart. I pray that you would consider pursuing them and pray to the Lord to open or close doors along the way, such that He can guide you with greater clarity. The Lord placed into my heart the dream to write for Him, but it was a 14 year journey to get there, serving Him in other ways first. The most important thing is that we are willing to do whatever He would ask of us, after that He does the great work in us.
Thank you! This word really ministered to my heart and confirmed what He has and is showing all of us. In Him we live and move and have our being. God centered brings peace self centered brings unrest… OH Lord…we do need you every moment…infuse us…for your Glory that we might be a light, speaking life, may streams of living water flow through us. May we be as the tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in its season.
Such a solid word of truth Rebecca. Praying for your ministry and all the ways the Lord is going to use you!
Wow. This spoke directly to me.
I pray that this will encourage you Danielle to step into all that the Lord has prepared for you in your life. That you will be His humble vessel serving Him for the Kingdom!
Knowing that our reward comes from God and not from men!
Amen!
I have been working in the same place for 11 years now. I thought it is where I belonged and that I would move up eventually. But it has been nothing but heartache and pain. I have been treated so badly that it has affected my heart and mind. So much so that I have suffered with fear, anxiety, depression. I have stayed because of the pay, and knowing that I need to provide for my family. But a few years back God have me an opportunity and he opened the doors for me to start a small business. I have not had the time or the energy to help it grow. But the Lord has not stopped nudging me. Especially these last few months. Everything I read. Everything I see or hear… A sermon, devotion, a Christian video… They’ve all spoken the same thing to me . Have faith. Step out. God has your back. He will provide. I’ve had a dream, vision in my heart that this business will grow and I will be able to use the gift He has given me to draw many to Him. Fear has held me back. Fear of disappointing my husband, if things were to go wrong and we would be financially unstable again. But my eyes Are being open to the fact that I need to trust God. That I need to rely on Him, not on a job or any one else. This article is just one more confirmation that I need to step out of the boat and keep my eyes fixed on Him; walk on the water knowing that I am in His will, and that in His will, I am safe. Thank you.
Tami, I just left a job three weeks ago. I had thought a year ago I should have left, but I waited and prayed on it and sought the Lord’s will. I remember the night earlier this year, praying with some precious siblings in Christ in Cambridge, MA about this very question I had. One sister prayed the Lord would give me clarity. after months of waiting, the very next day after that prayer I was given the clarity I had wanted. We have a precious Lord that will guide us in many ways, by a vision, through a circumstance, via confirmations. Pray for doors to be opened, and doors to be closed, and be determined in your heart that all you want is to be in the prefect will of God.
Paul,
Thank you for sharing! I needed to hear this and was encouraged as I can relate to your experience. God spoke to me in 2013 and gave me the dream of writing. I knew one day I would write a book. I am learning it is a journey of discovery to get there. I left my job in December 2017 to pursue writing. I joined a writers guild, started a website for blogging and I am about to start freelance writing. I am learning it takes lots of grace, patience and more grace. Prayer is my fuel that carries me through to pursue my dream and not give up. I am human. I have my days where I feel ineffective and I have to encourage myself in His word. But I will never give up. I know He called me to it. He will see me through it. Thank you for reminding me. Please pray for me as well. I submitted a short story to Guidepost magazine and I am praying to hear from them soon. God bless you.
Hi Teri, what a great blessing it is to meet you! We both have similar journeys in that we spent many years ministering in prisons, and then were called of God to write. It is a great honor to be called of God to do anything. Whether it is ministering in a jail or on paper, serving Him is a privilege. I think one of the things He looks for first is our willingness to respond to His calling, then next our perseverance as we set out to follow His calling and finally our realization that His calling never depends on our abilities but our utter dependence upon His abilities. Moses didn’t part the Red Sea, but he trusted that God would. Praying for you sister. Cannot wait to read more of things you have written. God has already ordained who will be touched by the words you have yet to even write.
Thank you! I needed this encouragement today. I got ordained a few months back.. so that I could serve as clergy for a women’s prison ministry. Little did I realize the bigger picture. Many words have been spoken over me my whole life that I was a teacher.. I would say no, I am an encourager and a pray warrior.. that’s it. Today, I am ready to step up and walk in my calling. I am going to surrender to HIS will and trust HIM. Prayers please..that I will only respond to HIS VOICE and continue to be led by Holy Spirit.
😊🙌☝️
What a great blessing Betty, that God is calling you into such a place where He can pour through you. To be a teacher is a grand role in His plans for raising up a new generation of believers. It is not that we must in ourselves have some great depth of knowledge, but rather that we simply fall down beneath the Lord that His endless resources of spiritual understanding would pour through us by the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that God seeks the least qualified such that it would be by His power we could then be used. Praying for your great success by the Lord my sister!
If I but place myself into your control, then You can pour through that.
🙌🙏 Yes, Lord! Thank you so very much Paul for being obedient to the Lord. I can’t tell you how many times God has spoken to me through your writings that are truly inspired by God. May God continue to pour in you and pour out!
Thank you so much for this encouragement, I truly appreciate it. How precious it is that God chooses to use us all to minister to one another, that we each can be His vessel in this world.