BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD!

I wrote 7,500 words Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon then spent Sunday afternoon tweaking/editing them. It's for my WIP (work in progress), a novel.

This is a "story of my heart," one that I knew I wanted to write six years ago. About a year ago, I began developing it and plotting it out.

This is an exhilarating stage for a novelist, though it's hard work. All of it is, in fact, the plotting and the writing. And the selling. And the marketing. But it's wonderful, all of it, to me, and I'm so glad God called me to write.

I thought I had the plot right; it's a complicated story. But last Wednesday afternoon, I realized it needed help. It needed retooling.

Milton and I were talking about it, brainstorming. He said, "Why don't you start it off with such-and-such?"

I knew he'd hit on something brilliant and told him so. Talk about exciting? This would be the icing on the cake, the creme de le creme.

The Bible says, "Behold how good, and oh how pleasant, it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity."

My paraphrase: "Behold how good, and oh how pleasant, it is for husbands and wives to dwell together in unity."

When things are flowing between you, when that unity is so...well, unified... that you feel like you're one person, not two, that's a good feeling. That's how I felt as we talked about the opening to my novel.

So now I knew how to write a new first chapter and set the story off in a new direction.

Hallelujah!

But because it's a complicated plot, I still had some quandries about how I would develop it and format it.

To further set the stage, for the last few weeks or more, I've had a real case of writer's block about this story; this is only the second time this has ever happened to me in my writing. Usually, I revel in creating stories. It's what I was born to do.

But I had confidence that God would help me.

We went to church that night. We were having our Annual Week of Prayer. Milton spoke briefly and told us to follow these two verses in our prayer time and ask God to speak to us:

1. Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."

2. Psalm 40:1 - "I waited patiently for the Lord."

As I was kneeling in prayer, the answer to this complicated plot came to me. It was like the proverbial light bulb had come on in a dark, scary room. Of course, I still had some plot points to work through, but I knew where I was headed and how the story would be formatted and shaped. God had clearly helped me. I give Him the credit for it. I was thrilled.

At the end of the service, Milton gave the opportunity for people to share what God had spoken to them.

One shared.

Another shared.

He said, "One more."

This is it, I thought. My turn.

A woman started talking.

I didn't get to share my revelation, I complained to the Lord.

Hold steady, He said. Be patient.

Well, the woman shared exactly what I needed to add to my plot (an idea, not real people or happenings).

I said in my heart, Thank ye, Lawde! (said with a Southern accent).

The next day, I sat down, and 5,000 words poured out of my heart. It was like an Artesian well in Florida. It just wouldn't stop. Hallelujah again!

Have you waited for something for a long time, like my novel that's been in my heart for six long years, yet it hasn't come about? Have you asked God for something that hasn't happened for you? And you feel like He promised it to you, yet He doesn't seem to be doing anything about it?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I being "still" before God, that is, knowing He's God and He can bring it about?

2. Am I being patient?

Whatever it is, the Lord will help you. Hang on. Don't give up. Be patient.

And you'll KNOW THAT HE IS GOD!