"What to Write"

“What to Write”

Many years ago Dr. M.R. DeHaan, founder of the Radio Bible Class, penned an article in the devotional Our Daily Bread (the current name of the ministry) that he’d gone outside onto his patio to write something for a future issue but no idea emerged. After a while he gave up and went back into his house. It was then God put thoughts into his mind and heart and the words flowed. From this experience he learned (admittedly taking some liberties with Matthew 10:19-20), “At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

I’ve been writing pieces like this for churches and now in this format for 45 years and have found Dr. DeHaan’s observation to be true. As of today I have a bulging file of about 190 pump primers for blogs. They come from a myriad of sources (e.g. reading, observations, conversations). Some of them have been buried for so long that I have no idea of what they mean (I sometimes jot things down in a version of hieroglyphics) so they seem to be useless and worthy of File 13G. But I can’t bring myself to put them there—who knows if God might bring them back from the dead and use them in some way I never would have imagined?

Every now and then I go through the stack and pull out a few that may have possibilities. Some of them come to fruition but many don’t (at least not then—good ideas sometimes have to wait for the right timing). What did Solomon write some 3000 years ago (please allow for an obvious personal reference)? “In his heart Jim plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).

There have been occasions I’ve begun an article then gotten stuck and couldn’t finish it. (A couple I’ve not yet completed are reposing in the aforementioned folder.) And some have come to life after many years in the doldrums. But there also have been times (rare to be sure) that the spark and article came together on the same day. So God works in various ways to carry out His work—including what to write. Please pray with me that I’ll be sensitive to His leading and in so doing bring encouragement to His people.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan