I write, and my soul sings.
That statement reminds me of an October tweet I posted on Twitter: #Iamreading Charles R. Swindoll's Living above the Level of Mediocrity…let's soar with eagles, committed to excellence!
The Bible study group my husband and I attend started this book in September. It will take quite a few months to get through it as we discuss one chapter at a time. Mr. Swindoll uses the illustration of a soaring eagle as the opposite of living with mediocrity. I’d like to think what a difference to my soul, had I discovered this book long ago, but my view is God’s timing has me reading it now.
As far as I’m concerned, singing and soaring go together. So I can claim my soul soars as I write.
Singing and soaring only happen, whether it be writing or anything else I’m called to do, if my focus is on the One who created me to glorify Him through my actions. Even if my heart is down, my attitude glum, as soon as I worship through song or strive to aim for excellence in doing the Lord’s work, I am lifted high.
Heart attitude begins in the mind. Proverbs 23:7 (NASB) says, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
I don’t know about anyone reading this, but I want to think of myself as obedient. Far from perfect, I do strive to do my very best in order to become the way God sees me. And to quote a really old slogan, “God don’t make no junk.”
Swindoll’s book, as expected, is filled with biblical references. The Bible should always be my source of strength, where I need to begin each day. I can go ahead and plan out my goals for each year, each month, each week, or each writing project. If I dig into that writing work without seeking the Lord first, my soul doesn’t sing. If I don’t consult God in prayer before I begin the simplest of writing tasks, I mess up and for sure, I don’t soar with eagles.
Singing and soaring isn’t always easy. I still struggle, I even experience failure, and some writing days are meant for the garbage. I can miss the notes that make a paragraph sing. I can be weary and slump my wings rather than float skyward. Yet, if my heart attitude is striving for all the attributes He is creating within me, the battle is worth it.
At the end of a good day, when my soul is filled with melody and I’ve flown higher on eagle’s wings than ever imagined, my joy through writing is affirmed.
Isaiah 40:31 is a favored verse:
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary. (NASB)
——————————
LoRee's latest story is part of Pelican Book Group's Christmas Holiday Extravaganza. Download your copy through December 31, 2015 for just 99¢.
