I never thought I would be a blogger. In fact, I really have fought against this. Several months ago, I felt God calling me to begin a blog. At first, I jotted down notes about what He was telling me, but the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to do it. I’m not completely sure why I have had such an aversion to doing this. I know that some of it has to do with the comments I have seen on blogs I have read before which I guess really ultimately comes down to a feeling of being exposed. Putting myself out there, my thoughts, etc. and then having to deal with feedback that may upset me. (Those of you who know me, know that I can be pretty passionate about what I think or believe.) I have avoided blogging because I didn’t know what kind of response to expect. The truth is I don’t even know what all God wants me to blog about so I have no idea what may come of it. There may not even be much negativity to deal with. But what if He calls me to say something that not everyone is going to like? What if someone responds in an argumentative way? What if I don’t have the right words to defend what I have said? What if, at some point, I have to admit I was wrong about something? Ugh! All those thoughts and more have kept me from pursuing what God told me to do. The reality is, though, that I will not be doing this to be popular or to be pleasing to whoever reads it. I have to do this because God has told me to, and, if that is why I am doing this, then I have to trust Him. I have to say what He lays on my heart and I have to be obedient to Him no matter what anybody else thinks. And if anyone does respond in a negative way, or even in a way that just expresses a different point of view, it will just be an opportunity for God to work in me, to teach me, to stretch me, to change me.
During this battle, I have asked why He wants me to do this and the truth is I don’t fully know, and I may never know every reason why. I do know one thing He showed me when He first brought this to my heart was that the blog is for me, for me to have accountability. Over the months, as I have argued and wrestled with this, I somehow lost sight of that. I had worried about people not getting anything out of this blog. I felt pressure when I thought about trying to blog in a certain way, to be like what I have already seen out there in the blogging world. The weight of those worries and concerns with trying to be something I am not wore me down. But God finally got through to me again, and reminded me of what He told me to begin with. In the past few weeks, as the need to become obedient to His plan in this area of my life has gotten to a point where I could no longer put it off, He has brought this very reason back to my heart and mind. This blog is for me. It is for stretching me and changing me and holding me accountable. While I don’t know what the content will be for these blogs, I do know that much.
I have struggled with this for months and I am finally giving in! I am going to become a blogger, something I never thought I would do for a lot of reasons, but I am doing it in obedience to the Lord, so here goes! You are welcome to join me as I discover what He has in store and maybe more about why He has told me to do this. I make no promises about what this blog will be like. I don’t know what will be discussed or how it will be delivered. I have no plan. It is His. The only thing that I can say is that, at this point, I believe it will be a once week blog. So, if you choose to join me on this journey, I will see you next week!
Following His plan,
Julie
P.S. (or food for thought): Is there something you’ve been avoiding that God has been telling you to do? Let me tell you that there is freedom in obedience! The weight lifts when we come into obedience to the Lord.
Redeemed Hope Dweller 
Love this! Good for you for obeying! I know exactly how you feel… I have a blog – where I rarely post – but just the other day Matt randomly said to me, “I am going to start encouraging you to write.” I have no idea what that looks like for me, I have struggled with being “just another mom blogger,” and honestly, I don’t think I have time to devote to it. But I am laying it down before the Throne and await God’s direction. Know that I will be praying for you on this journey! ❤
Girl, you have NO idea how I struggled with some of the same things! I’ve read a lot of blogs that I enjoyed, but it seems like everybody is into blogging now, and I didn’t want to do it because I’ve felt like there are so many others who already blog, what need is there for another?!? I still ask myself and God that sometimes, but He told me to do it so I know He has a purpose for it. Already I can see benefits in my life from doing it. It helps keep me accountable and just the fact that I am finally obeying Him has brought peace and freedom. I have also struggled with the time issue. I usually end up writing EARLY in the mornings before I wake the kids up. Going through trying to figure out the time thing, I realized that if I kept trying to “find” the time to do it, I would never find it, but that I was going to have to MAKE time for it because it was something God called me to do. Thank you for your prayers and I will be praying for you as well, that you will find your niche in blogging and sharing your thoughts! (And I look forward to reading your blogs in the future!) 🙂
You go girl……God has great plans for what he tells you to share and it will encourage us all I’m sure. Thanks for being obedient. Melba
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Sam 15:22
I am so glad you posted your blog on Facebook. I can relate as I read through your blogs. I have started a few myself but don’t seem to stick with it. I keep telling myself that no one reads it but that is just one of many excuses to not trust and obey what the Lord tells me to do. Keep it up. I have booked marked it and will be looking for more encouraging words.
Thank you for the encouragement! I’ve gone through some of the same struggles. I eventually reached a point where I said to myself that it didn’t matter if no one read what I wrote because I knew God was calling me to do it. Whether anyone read it really wasn’t up to me anyway, but writing it was, so, I finally stepped out in obedience and began to blog what I felt He was telling me to blog. I also kept asking God why He wanted me to blog when it seems like there are already so many out there who blog. I finally began to see that blogging is a unique opportunity. Unlike those in the past, we have a way to reach so many more in a shorter amount of time because of the internet. Through Christians taking to the internet and blogging about Jesus and what He’s done in their lives, we have the chance to flood the internet with praise for God. It’s a way to bring glory to His name and tell of His works! If the Lord is calling you to share with others through blogging, I encourage you to take that step of faith and obedience and then let Him take care of the rest! 🙂
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary.” Psalm 107:1-2