Why my Laptop is my Holy Ground (and how to discover yours)

January 11, 2013 in Being human,Blogging,Calling,Christian,Christian lifestyle,Christian values,Christianity,Creativity,Discipleship,Encouragement,Honesty,Identity,Intentional living,Story,Testimony,Writing with 24 Comments

Source: pinwords.com via James on

So many go through life with no sense of calling. They seem to drift in and out of jobs or careers, never feeling settled. Either they have no idea about calling and what their calling is, or they do, and are afraid to embrace it.

I’m convinced one of the reasons so many commitments people make for New Year don’t work is because there is no sense of calling behind them.

When I was younger, I thought my calling was to be a pastor. From about 16 this was what I wanted to do. I figured after uni I’d go to Bible college or something, and it would just all happen.

It didn’t. In 2002 I did a gap year with Youth with a Mission (YWAM), thinking I’d pass that and become a full-time Christian leader there. Nope.

At this point I began to see being a pastor was my ambition. Not God’s. And it was then God was able to show me my true calling.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been able to write. But writing came so easily to me, I didn’t appreciate or value it then for the gift it was – and is.

During my gap year however, all my leaders and friends kept complimenting me on my writing. Often asking me to consider investing some time in it.

It was pretty obvious what God was saying.

Despite my attempts at ignorance, I eventually accepted this was where God was taking me.

So I began a blog.

To begin with, I was an amateur who treated it like a hobby. But over the years as I began to mature and enjoy writing, this changed.

In 2010/2011 I took on a life coach for six months. They challenged me to be more professional, to invest in myself and my gift properly. In 2012 I began regular guest posting and completed the Tribe Writers course.

And meantime my tribe was growing. I was building a following online through social media and my blog itself.

However, two other things happened during this time. Almost by accident.

startwritingnow250wFirst, I completely fell in love with writing.

Secondly though, I began to feel a strong sense of divine calling within me.

Recently I was sitting at my computer writing, whern I had a sense where I was sitting was sacred space. Holy ground.

There was something divine about me simply sitting at my laptop writing.

Occasionally when I’m writing, I have a sense of total oneness with the divine. And even if my life is a mess, I still have complete clarity about my calling. I know I am living in complete harmony with the tune God wrote me to play.

Knowing my calling hasn’t given me untold success, fame and fortune. It hasn’t completed me. It’s not made everything okay.

But I feel peace. Clarity. Purpose.

In this area I am completely at one with God.

And I know there is so much more to do. More to learn and grow into.I see what God is giving me to share, and feel a sense of purpose. A purpose which to my delight and surprise, has nothing to do with making a living, selfish ambition, being popular, attaining a certain status or achieving any numbers.

I can surrender the outcome more easily. My calling is to write and create. It’s not to decide the outcome.

And the great thing about calling, is it can be pretty much anything.

For me it is writing and creating. For you it may be science, music, architecture, medicine, being a pastor, being a teacher, a stay-at-home parent or piano tuner. Anything. 

And this becomes our very own Holy Ground.

We can only truly grow if we have a sense of our calling. It gives us focus. If we are living in our calling, we are completely in tune with the will of the divine (tweet that here).

If you don’t know your calling, just begin paying attention. Listen to encouraging words of others. What do people keep telling you you’re good at? What do you enjoy doing? What are you doing already? What are your passions?

Your calling isn’t always going to be your job (writing isn’t mine right now). It may not even be a lifetime calling. But it is an important part of you. It’s something only you can do.

And it’s your own Holy ground.

Once you know your calling, you need to start taking action today to invest in it.

Give yourself to it fully.

Are you ready to begin?
 
 

This post is part of Devotional Diva’s ‘Start Writing Now’ synchroblog.

 

 

 

 
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Related posts:

Why we’re Meant to Walk with God (not in front or behind)

Why We Don’t Need to Set Goals for 2013 (set Values instead)

6 Lessons from 2012 (and why you need to share your story)

The Importance of Being Encouraging

Why Life is Like Writing

 

 

About James Prescott: James Prescott is a writer & blogger who explores how we find divine hope in the messiness of live. He's a regular guest blogger & author of '5 Steps to Encouragement: The Secret to Transforming the World' Follow him at @JamesPrescott77

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  • Eileen

    Beautiful, truth-filled words. Almost 4 years ago, I faced my fear of writing and I came to life in so many ways. Like you, it’s not my career but I continue to feel called to do it. I have found so much joy in the process!

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Thanks Eileen – really appreciate your comment, great that it resonated with you. Thanks for the encouragement!

  • http://www.wordsofjoy75.blogspot.co.uk/ Joy Lenton

    Thank you for this fascinating glimpse ‘behind the scenes’ of the writing process, James. Hallowed ground indeed! To discover our calling and to live it out is what we are made for. Since knowing you on social media and becoming friends, I have been privileged to observe some of the journey you have taken to arrive at this point and the ground you  are claiming as your own to share your God-encounters with us.
    It’s an exciting and inspiring place to be in. You are doing what God has called you to do and it is blessing others greatly. Yet, even if it wasn’t, the very fact that you meet there with the Lord is a wonderful thing to experience.
    Hold on to that thought through potentially darker days ahead when writing may feel more like a heavy slog  than sheer joy. In it all – ease or struggle – something beautiful is being birthed in you that will influence the rest of your life.
    May God continue to loose the creativity that is waiting to flow out through your hands to His honour, praise and glory.

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Thanks Joy, really encouraging words as ever. Really appreciate all your comments here, look forward to hearing from you more. Thanks again.

  • http://cherishedlife.net/ MelAnn Morales

    Beautiful, sacred ground! Thank you for sharing this realization – very inspirational!  

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Thanks for your comment MelAnn, and for the encouragement. Really appreciate it! :-)

  • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

    Love it. God is a Creator and we participate in the divine nature when we ourselves create.

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Thanks for your comment Jeff – really means a lot coming from you. Thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/wendyvaneyck Wendy van Eyck

    You should link this up for the #startwritingnow synchroblog. Would fit in perfectly!

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Have done so – should have realised it was perfect for that, can’t believe I didn’t see it before. Thanks for showing me! :-)

      • http://www.devotionaldiva.com/ Renee Johnson Fisher

         Awesome, thanks again for linking up James!

        • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

          No problem – thanks for sharing the post! :-)

  • http://hmarewenearlythereyet.blogspot.com/ Helen Murray

    Wow. What a wonderful, inspiring piece. It’s only in the last three months that I’ve started to network or put my writing ‘out there’ and I find it so hard to describe myself as a writer, much less promote what I write. 

    I’m working on the principle that God gave me the longing to write, and the words to write with, and if He wants me to write, then He must want someone to read what I write.  And then…if He wants me to write, then the other guy probably wants me to be too self conscious and lack confidence and play small, or give up. Holy Ground…do you really think…? Even for me?Thankyou, James. A real wake-up for me today. 

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Helen, love this comment!! :-) Yes, totally agree in many ways, if He wants you to write then there are people who need to hear it. But sometimes He wants us to write merely for ourselves – if our primary motive is to please others or get stats, we won’t get anywhere, and we’ll produce rubbish work. Write from your heart, tell your story, write for yourself – and then share it. 

      Thanks for the encouragement, really appreciate it. 

  • Katina Vaselopulos

    James, Wonderful and ispiring post!
    You are really blessed by teachers and guides, but mostly  by God.

    I apreciate what you say. I wrote my book without giving it a thought… just holding the pen and allowing words to  pour on the page.

    When I chose a topic to write about, nothing flows, nothing makes sense.

    God willing, I am submitting next month. What happens after that, only God knows.
    I felt compelled to tell my story and I did. If it touches even a handful of people… mission accomplished.

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Katina, thanks for the encouragement, really appreciate it – and really empathise with simply sitting and letting words pour out.  Thanks for your comment – and look forward to your book!

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  • Alexi George

    That’s good, James. Calling must be broader than the narrow perceptions we create. I am a pastor and teacher at a seminary. My son feels calling to the ministry, so I encouraged him in the only way I know – begin through academics. But now, he may switch mid-stream in college to something totally different. It’s the calling thing!

    • http://jamesprescott.co.uk/blog James Prescott

      Thanks for your comment Alexi – definitely agree with you.

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Definitely is Alexi – thanks for your comment (and my apologies for not replying sooner, been ill recently!). We never know what God has in store do we?

  • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

    This is really something awesome James. So glad you found your “space!”

    • http://www.jamesprescott.co.uk/ James Prescott

      Thanks Jim – hope you discover yours too! Thanks for commenting. :-)

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