You know how sometimes God whispers in our hearts and we ignore it? I've been doing that. And not with something difficult or complicated.

So, since the ACFW conference God has whispered that I need to read I John. I don’t know why I’ve put it off...it’s not like He told me to read Numbers or Leviticus! But last week I finally cracked open my parallel Bible as I ate my oatmeal.

I wanted to share a couple thoughts from chapter one, cause I think a few of us are in a similar boat. We’re writing because we feel called, but we’re not necessarily writing out of joy at the moment. Different things weigh us down. The proposal that intimidates the heck out of us. The edits that made us question whether we should even bother. Or the lack of direction that makes us feel like we’re spinning through a fog.

If you're not a writer, it might be a task God has asked you to do. It might be serving someone with a heart of joy. Each of us has something we're struggling with.

I John opens a lot like John, talking about Jesus as the light instead of the Word. But what I found fascinating is verse 4. John talks about how he and the disciples saw Jesus. But now “We write this to make our joy complete” (NIV) or “Our motive for writing is simply this: we want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy.” (MSG)

We write to share Christ. We serve to share Christ. Whether facets of who He is, or the full-blown Gospel message. I want that complete joy again. So I’m praying today that the Holy Spirit will overflow in each of us, specifically with joy as we sit down to write for Him or to serve Him. To share who He is and what we’ve seen and experienced with Him. That our joy would be complete as we obediently share the stories God has placed in our hearts. Each story unique. Each story with a different readership. Each story an act of obedience to write.

May the joy flow in abundance for each of you today!