This morning at men’s prayer God gave me some words, and I finally spoke them. Later I said, “I’m more of a ‘write it down’ guy that a ‘say it out loud’ guy.” One of the other guys immediately asked me, “Who told you that?” That limitation didn’t come from God.
He was spot on. I’ve been believing forever that I am different from some of the other men I pray with. I didn’t really see a problem with being different because some things need to be written down and other things need to be said out loud. I just figured that it was someone else’s gift to speak the words, and mine was to write them. You be the mouth and I’ll be the hand, so to speak.
Actually, I still believe that.
Regardless of whether or not I am a great writer, I know that I am better able to communicate my thoughts after having a chance to write them and edit them. (I’ve been editing this post for over an hour and will probably never be happy with it.) I believe it is a talent from God that I am developing, and I don’t want to minimize that. Written words are important because you can refer back to them later. Why do you think we have a Bible?
Here’s the difference, though. When I write, I am relying on my talent to express my thoughts. Are some of them inspired? Yes—at least I hope so! But I am using my own ability—God-given as it may be—to try to express something.
But when I speak out with my mouth some word that God has given me in a moment, I am no longer relying on any talent that I have. I am no longer trying to wrap my head around something and express some concept with my words. There is no chance for editing.
There is just the word, and that word is not my own.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.
I don’t do “new year’s resolutions”, but this year I did work on a personal vision statement for 2018. On that list was “grow more confident.” When I wrote it, I was thinking about my new business. I’ve been in software development forever, but have never run a software business until now. There’s a lot I don’t know how to do yet, so there are many areas where I lack confidence.
Of course, now I believe that God has hijacked my vision statement for something bigger than my company. So, yes, I plan this year to continue developing the talents God has given me, but I am also planning to spend less time relying on these talents. I plan to keep writing, for myself and for anyone else that reads it, but I also plan to speak the quickened word.