Prophetic Art and Christian Writers – Discipline

Laurie A. Stasi in Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France

 

The Lord is speaking to me today about discipline. Sometimes, as artists and writers, we wait for the creative, or prophetic juices to kick in before we get moving. Instead, in faith we need to take the first step and go forward, trusting that the Lord will meet us in that place of surrender. The enemy’s strategy is to distract us from our most anointed work. He will put obstacles in the way and thoughts that make our mind wander and draw us to other less anointed projects. If he can take us away to second best, he wins, because second best is the enemy of the best. God wants the best for us, to accomplish His assignments. Always ask, “Is this project good, better or best?” In my case, we bought an old house that needs updating in every room. I can easily find work to do that feels like I accomplished something by the end of the day. It can be satisfying. But I have to strive for a disciplined life and limit how many hours a week I pour into the house. I have a project schedule for myself so that I will not stray from the God assignments. The Lord spoke to me, to “stick to the calendar.” It is still a struggle, but it is the formula for breakthrough.

This is our fixer-upper, a 95-year-old foursquare house (taken when we bought it in 2015). I am holding Sophia, one of our 8 grandchildren, next to my husband, Paul. Old houses are tons of work, but they are very homey and beautiful. The Lord spoke to us related to the “Four Square” church, and shortly after we moved in, we went to a conference in California and were able to visit Aimee Semple McPherson’s church, Angeles Temple, the Four Square Church.

One tip I recently heard at a writer’s conference was regarding technology. Author, Ron Carlson said he does not open his Internet, or emails, etc., until after 2:00 p.m. Technology has become an enormous time-waster in our society. Even if you want to just check your email, it probably will take more time than you thought it would. Who could have imagined 25 years ago, that people would spend endless hours doing email, Facebook, Netflix and other such time-sucking technologies? If we regulate, or better yet, fast these things from our lives, we gain countless hours in our week. Even when a writer is writing blogs, it feels like productive work, but if the Lord has called you to just write books, you are disobedient. Many times we hear that we need to market our work to get exposure, but balance is the key so we do not get drawn into endless cyber hours. Pray for a strategy of balance in every area, and God will lead you to success.

“For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete,” Deut. 16:15b.

Laurie Stasi – March 8, 2016

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