“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Embrace – to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly.

A few hours after writing my previous blog post, I checked Facebook, Twitter, and email to see if anyone had made any comments. This was not to feed my ego. I have prayed several times over the course of two years for two things I wanted to achieve in my writing. One, that readers would see the faithfulness of God in their own lives and give Him glory; and two, that the one person out there who felt broken, lost, or hopeless, would find courage for today and hope for tomorrow.

I wanted to know if this struggle with time, words, and prayer in writing was making a difference. After two concussions and other health issues, word meanings and spellings seem to evaporate from my mind like steam on the hot pavement after a rain. Praise God for a former English teacher who edits my blog and book!

Friends will mostly encourage you. That is always appreciated.

God, please, send me a person that doesn’t know me, that would acknowledge that what I wrote, encouraged them, convicted them, or brought them reassurance? What was the point of writing if not?

I’m not trying to make a name for myself but to make the LORD’s name renowned.

We all desire that what we say or what we do will make a difference.

We observe professional athletes, actors, singers, and other professionals receive accolades, and yes, criticism too at times. But I believe it’s the hidden artist who paints, writes, teaches, preaches, and creates, that lives in uncertainty asking, is what I’m doing having any effect on anyone?

I read recently of an artist who had submitted a painting to a show, and their painting was not accepted. You could tell he was a little disappointed. I wrote a note of encouragement that no matter what he created, some people were going to love it, and some were not. But if God had given him a gift, to keep using it and keep submitting the finished work. One day it would bring joy to the perfect person.

My issue wasn’t about being accepted (well, wait till I try to publish the book!), it was more about if my writing was making a difference. I pray before I write anything and hope that the Holy Spirit is instilling words into my heart that pour out of my hands into the keyboard.

As I sat there praying about writing, I heard the Lord answer in my heart.

Why do you need someone to acknowledge what you’ve written? Just obey!

Listening to several of the late Dr. Charles Stanley’s sermons, I’ve repeated his life-long phrase a hundred times in my mind: “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”

God then placed a vision in my mind to humble me… Jesus kneeling at the rock in Gethsemane.

God just asked me to share His faithfulness in my life. God asked His Son to give up His life. The most difficult obedience ever – die the most painful death for universal sins, past – present – future. Did He receive encouragement from his disciples that had journeyed with Him for three years? These men had seen the way Jesus treated outcasts with unfathomable love. They had watched the miracles of touch, and sometimes the miracle of a word. But no, they couldn’t even stay awake to be with Him when they had heard what was about to happen.

They didn’t see Jesus sweat tears of blood, asking, My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me (Matthew 26:39).

When Jesus was being obedient, and suffering on the cross, was there any acknowledgment?

There was no…

Hey, thanks Jesus, for doing that! Your sacrifice encourages me! You set a good example for us all!

Instead, Jesus was ridiculed, laughed at, spat on, slapped, criticized, and doubted. Those who did not believe He was the Christ, thought he was a self-seeking, crazy man. Those who did believe in Him were…

Disappointed

Doubtful

Depressed

Yet… Jesus still obeyed. He died the most horrific death and gave His life for our salvation and redemption (John 3:16). There was no applause for His sacrificial offering.

The next time you are desiring acceptance, acknowledgment, or confirmation…remember how Christ surrendered everything for you.

Just obey and leave the consequences to God. Even if you are rejected, turned down, criticized, or forgotten.

If God has given you a gift or a calling, embrace it and obey.

If God has asked you to go out of your comfort zone and do something you don’t believe you have the skills to do, just obey and leave the consequences to God.

You may never know until heaven if you have encouraged someone, saved someone’s life, or led them to Christ.

Whatever God has called you to do…

Teach

Paint

Write

Build

Preach

Caretaker

Nurse

Create

Be a mother to a behavioral, needy, ill child…

…work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. (Colossians 3:23).

Leave the ramifications, results, and reactions to God.

Embrace your calling remembering that every skill you have comes from God. We perfect it with practice to proclaim the precious name above all names.