Keep Writing?

Pause & Ponder this:

One of the comments I received upon newly joining a writer's site some years back was "Keep writing!" To me, it was a neutral comment. Depending on which mood I happened to be in, I could take it to mean "Keep writing, hopefully next time you won't stink." Or the opposite, "Keep writing. I like what I've just read & want more." Maybe what it really meant was "You have potential." If only the commenter had gone on to explain which they meant...it wouldn't have left me wondering. And what if I don't feel like writing next week, should I keep writing anyway?

The "keep writing" example came to my mind when I was reading Romans 12:11-12 in The Message today.

"Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.
Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.
Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder."

Nothing ambiguous about this instruction, is there? We are to "Keep Walking" as believers, good mood, bad mood, and every emotion, struggle & circumstance in-between. We keep from getting burned out when we keep ourselves fueled and aflame by the power of the Word. We keep expectant, cheerfully so, as we keep alert to our Master, working in and through us. We keep going and keep praying during the hard times. There's no other choice.

I had to stop and ask myself today:

Am I keeping on as His disciple, or have I given up in some areas?

Is my walk powered by His fuel or my own?

Do I talk talk of the walk without keeping the walk worthy of my talk?

My friends:

"Since this is the kind of life we have chosen,

the life of the Spirit,

let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads

or a sentiment in our hearts, 

but work out its implications in every detail of our lives."

Galatians 5:25

Living Him out in every detail of our lives is only possible when we surrender our lives to the Lord, keeping Him front and center. I'm praying "all the harder" for that now.

Lord God, help us to live this message large today through the power of the Holy Spirit. You are our Lord. Apart from You, we have no good thing. In Your faithful name we pray, Amen.