Start Again Today...

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!

Now on to my topic...

One day a couple of months ago, someone paid me a compliment that actually surprised me. A high profile woman said to me, "You are a really good writer." Her words jolted me in a way they shouldn't have. I realized I had given up some ground in my thought life with regards to my writing life.

Let me explain. My last book came out a year ago. I set book-writing aside for a few seasons to launch the radio show. Most of my author friends are primarily writers who speak once in a while. They daily practice their craft. They've honed their skill. And they are excellent at what they do. I was a speaker before I was a writer. And then I got into radio. Only a fraction of my time goes to writing. When I write a book, I spend a few months grinding it out and then I go back out on the road again. Most of my author friends can write circles around me because they spend consistent time applying themselves to it.

This past year my focus has largely been on radio and speaking. So when harassing thoughts swirled around my head like, "You can't write" "You don't know what you're doing when it comes to writing" "You have nothing to say" - instead of stopping those thoughts in their tracks, taking them captive, and putting them in prison, I simply waved them away like an irritating gnat. I didn't take care of them and as a result, they multiplied in my midst. 

When that wonderful, sincere compliment came my way, it actually sounded untrue because for too long, I had tolerated a lie. I had given up ground that God had entrusted to me. I'm certainly not the best writer I know, but I'm not the worst either. No matter. God has given me something to say and I'll never hear Him clearly as long as I give any air time to that lying enemy of our souls. 

Just because I wasn't in book-writing mode doesn't mean I didn't need to guard my yard. 

How about you?

Have you given up some ground by not defending it against the lies of the enemy? Has the enemy crept onto your territory and tried to re-claim certain places that belong to you? Maybe related to your identity? Your future? Your calling? Your value? 

Don't beat yourself up. Just rise up, raise your shield, and take back your land! It doesn't matter if God's truth doesn't feel true for you. It's still true. You are valuable. You are gifted. You are called. You are loved. You are treasured.

You have certain gifts entrusted to you and God absolutely LOVES to see you in your sweet spot - using those gifts in the very ways He planned for you. Here again is the call to be more God-aware than self-aware! 

It doesn't matter if or how the lie overshadowed the truth, what matters is that you and I start again today, affirming what's true about us because we belong to God. 

Lead me by your truth and teach me,for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you (Psalm 25:5). 

~Until next week

Comments

[Karen S.]

I took back my land Tuesday. Every day, I hear the same lies - "you can't get through the day without blowing your diet." "You're going to blow it, might as well get it over with." And I buy into it. Not today. No cake for breakfast, I drove right past a Dairy Queen twice without stopping. I deserve better than the lies of the enemy, God says so, and I'm taking His word for it! Thanks for your encouraging post. I'm printing it, and it's going on the frig. I deserve better than Satan's deception.

[Meeshia]

Susie.... I have thought for years how much I would love for you to write a book on taking thoughts captive. I have been inspired by you through the years to walk such a deeper walk with Him because of your talks, books and radio. It sounds strange but I have found myself asking over the years about putting on the armour of God; knowing we are called to do that but what does it truly look like in practice in every moment. Praying scripture is something I have learned on my own because no one was ever around me that does that and taking lies captive.... I would love to learn more from you about that! Blessings to you today!

[JHollyhock (aka Jennifer)]

Thank you! I so needed this message. I think I have been listening to the lies so much lately that I don't even know what the truth is. I really appreciate what you shared towards the end about it not mattering whether God's truth feels true to us or not, it's still true. Thank you!!

[Rachel Beran]

Thank you for sharing JUST what I needed to read this morning! Brought tears to my eyes and conviction to my heart. Praying now...