A writers forum I follow posed the question this week— ‘what is your word for 2020?’ People of faith often choose an expression to lead them through the year. With writers it makes sense because those who compose prose are in the business of words.
I had to give this some thought. 2020 represents the satisfaction of several completed achievements—a climax of successes God has granted me. My fourth book will release August 1. November will mark my tenth year of blogging. My novels are now on Kindle and all of them are soon to be Audible offerings.
When I think about what has transpired I feel a little dizzy.
I wrote my first book for one reason—I wanted to see if I could complete a novel. I worked at it with regular effort and when I finished the story I was surprised at how satisfied I felt. But then another curiosity followed. Would others like to read this? Being published had never entered my mind. I thought I was crazy.
But with the encouragement of a critique group I sought publication. Nothing happened.
Trust me—NOTHING.
Except I had grown accustomed to writing every day and decided to write another story. You know—just to pass the time.
I finished it.
By this time I had learned to navigate the waters leading to publication and sought a publisher for my second work. It took time. It wasn’t easy. I wouldn’t recommend the process to the faint of heart.
But it happened.
I never published my first book. It still sits in my computer waiting for air outside of cyberspace. But God, in His timing and wisdom, has granted me the publication of four other books. I never dreamed this would happen. God, though, took my original desire of writing a novel and granted me the ideas to write four more. When I couldn’t dream big enough, God did my dreaming for me.
Jeremiah 29:11 promises us that God has plans for each one of us, plans to do us good and not harm. Our part is simply to trust him— to wait upon him—to do what he assured us he would.
In my life, that has certainly been true. Ephesians 3:20: (NIV) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask for think, according to his power that is at work within us.”
And so I give you my 2020 word—ABIDE.