Holding on to Truth

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out 'Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:14-15 NASB)

This is my last day of writing conference. I've learned lots, but home beckons. Over the past few days, my emotions have been on an insane roller coaster. I've heard stunning praise for my writing with absolute belief in my story from some and the heartbreaking pronouncement that thrillers won't sell, especially with terrorists in the story line, from another. I'm dizzy with the praise one moment and teetering on the brink of despair the next. It's exhausting. I'm ready for an even keel, my own bed, and my Wonder Dogs. I'm ready for retreat.

Pastor Ed Underwood has been the evening plenary speaker this week, and he's spoken some very important truth. 

Being a writer will mess with your head. Being a Christian writer will mess with your heart. 

He's absolutely right. Being at a Christian writers' conference will also mess with your heart. If you allow it.

The key word is allow. Will I allow the enemy to mess with my mind or not? I will not. I'm excited and a little disappointed and overwhelmed. But excitement and disappointment and the sense of being overwhelmed are all emotions. They aren't truth.

My truth is I still have an editor who enthusiastically wants to hear a pitch and a top agent who wants a proposal. I have a skilled for-hire editor willing to not only edit my book but teach me to edit as he does. Talk about value for your money! 

The most important truth of all, however, is that I still have a Heavenly Father who not only loves me, but has a good plan for my life. What do I have to be disappointed about? Nothing at all. 

I wrote it yesterday, and it's true today. 

The spirit of adoption, as a child crying out Abba Father, changes everything.

The one in charge of my life and my future is not an agent or an editor. The one in charge of my life is God Himself, and He's my Daddy. He has a plan and it's good. Because God is my Father, I can count on Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." 

Our Father has a plan, and it is good. 

For today, I'm headed to another class and another inspiring speaker, followed by a leisurely afternoon before a red-eye flight home. I'm leaving filled with more knowledge than I had when I came, more encouragement than I had, and more information about the CBA market than I had. I'm also going home with an inkling of a plan. 

Most important, though, I'm going home with the same truth I've had for many years. God is in control, and He is still on His throne. 

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Father, thank you for loving us enough to adopt us. Thank you for a plan that is always for our good. Draw us closer to your truth and closer to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The spirit of adoption

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out 'Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:14-15 NASB)

I'm still at Writing Conference. The last few days have been a whirlwind. In case you're wondering, the day starts with worship at 9 am, then classes until lunch, then more classes until the late afternoon, when there's a panel discussion that ends just in time for dinner. After the evening meal, there are "night owl" sessions. Meetings with agents, editors, and mentors are sandwiched in between all the classes and meals. 

It's been late when I've finally headed to my room, and even later when I've finally settled down after the excitement of the day. My head has been in a whirl, and so has my heart. 

After the last nine months of 12-14 hour days spent poring over my computer, writing up a storm, editing until I wept, and agonizing over just the right word, I'm finally pitching my story while trying to fine tune it. It's been a solitary life these last months, and the bustle and crowd this week have been a shock. 

Even more shocking has been this business of pitching my story in two sentences. Thirty seconds to tell what has taken most of a year to write. As a person of many words, the restriction of words frightens me. Pitching to people who could impact my future terrifies me.

When I read this passage, however, I'm reminded once again that there is no need to fear. As a daughter of God, I have not been given a spirit of fear, which enslaves me. The logical thing, the way of the world, might be to have, instead of fear, a spirit of courage, but that's not what God gives us. 

Are you ready for this? 

We don't need courage because we have been given a spirit of adoption.

That's counterintuitive to me. I want courage as I head to these meetings. I want to be bold and brave and strong, but courage and bravery and strength are a distant second to the great gift God has given me.

The spirit of adoption, as a child crying out Abba Father, changes everything.

The one in charge of my life and my future is not an agent or an editor. The one in charge of my life is God Himself, and He's my Daddy. He has a plan and it's good. Because God is my Father, I can count on Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." 

Our Father has a plan, and it is good.

There's no need to be afraid, because I want God's plan more than I want my own. The search is not for just any agent. The search is for the agent God wants for me, for God's plan, and that changes everything.

The truth that stuns me is that God's plan is not just for the big things like agents and editors and publishing companies. God's plan is epic in its expanse. Eternal in its duration. He is our life and breath. There is no need He's overlooked, no search He cannot solve. 

If you are searching for answers, turn to the One who is All-Knowing. Cry out to Abba Father, who doesn't give us fear. He gives us adoption, the most incredible gift of all.

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Father, Thank you that you have a plan for us and it is good. Help us to walk as children of the King and follow Your path for our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.