To-Do: Write this Week’s Victory Call (and Make Sure it’s a Good One!)
Posted on January 12, 2018 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call
I’ve been looking at my To-Do list all day and, being that it’s Friday afternoon, most everything is scratched off. Refill the offering envelopes? Done. Print and organize mailings? Done. Print tickets, programs, and postcards for upcoming events? Done! There’s just one little thing on my to-do list that’s been glaring at me all day (actually, since Monday): “Write this week’s Victory Call.”
I love writing devotionals every week, but I have to be honest with you all… I’ve really been coming up empty lately. For some reason, I’m finding it hard to think of something to write about, which seems crazy because the Bible has SO many topics and verses to speak on. Lately, I’ve been writing and rewriting and deleting and restarting my Victory Calls so many times that I actually get frustrated. Today, I bent my head down and said “Lord, please give me the words.”
Then, I realized something. I’ve been struggling so much because I got caught up in the lie that my Victory Calls were about me… and I don’t say that to be sacrilege. Of course I know they’re all about God, but I got caught up in the lie that I needed my Victory Calls to be entertaining, so people will like what I write and I will look like a good writer. I felt like I needed to come up with a really good analogy, share a funny story, and hook people in in order to engage my readers. But then I felt the Lord laying something on my heart: stop trying to perform, it’s not about you.
Performing for God… yeah, I kind of try to do that a lot – especially in ministry. So I decided to see what the Word of God has to say about performance.
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for human masters. – Colossians 3:23
God taught me that when I try to perform for Him, I’m really building up the Kingdom of Self. I don’t want to write my devotionals for prideful gain, but for the glory of God. How do you try and perform for Jesus? Could it be that you’re doing such hard work in ministry and experiencing burn out? Could it be that you’re always putting on the “everything’s perfect” mask so you look like a “good” Christian? Whatever it is – remember, you don’t have to put on a performance to see your worth in Christ… He loves you, flaws and all! Just be with Him.
Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!