by Blythe Daniel @BlytheDaniel

Friend, how are you feeling about starting a new year? Our community, our family of writers has suffered loss this year. There has been widespread heartache. And yet, we are a people who live with the most hope because we have the hope of glory in us: “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) It is good to remember this hope that is in us, isn’t it? 

We’ve just come through the season of focusing on Jesus coming to earth and yet sometimes we forget all too quickly that even those who recognized him early on knew of the days when Jesus would rescue His people from the destruction and divisions that would come. Luke 2:34:35 says “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” 

I’ve been thinking about how Mary knew early on that her son would be walking this path. Yet she didn’t hold back. She had a heavenly vision. Literally. An angel came to her and she knew the course and was faithful to walk it out. How are we seeing the vision God has for our life?

As writers, do we ask God to bless our ideas that we come up with or do we go to Him first to receive our ideas? How big is your vision for your writing life?

I believe some of us think too little (or too quickly) and don’t dwell in a message or walk out a bold vision like Mary did.  (For further reading, take a look at Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55). Mary risked the embarrassment of being a pregnant woman not married. She risked putting all of her hope in God and believed God would bring out of what seemed impossible to completion. She risked, but she gained so much. God’s vision became hers.

What vision do you and I need to look to this year? Do we have a heavenly vision for how God can redeem this year? I believe He is going to. It doesn’t mean there isn’t pain and hurt. Or rejection with our writing or ideas. But it means that our eyes can see Him even while we’re thick in the loss, or a setback, or a piercing of our souls as Simeon shared in Luke 2. 

We firmly fix our hearts and minds around the truth of God’s Word. He is not worried, He has not changed, and we write not for our name but for His. May I encourage you to press into Him further this year, beyond other voices, beyond any fear or worry that you have about your life?
I have attached myself to this reminder in Matthew 10:29-30: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” If God’s vision on us is so close that He knows how many hairs we have, can’t we trust Him with our vision? What does your writing year look like? Are you firmly fixed on what He is trying to say through you? Are you standing solidly on who He is first, and His Word, before trying to grab hold of any words?   

You have tremendous value and you hold a place as a writer and communicator of the greatest hope for us and for our world. How are you partnering with God to carry it out this year?

Blythe Daniel is a literary agent and marketer and has been in publishing for over 20 years. She has written for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Focus on the Family, Ann Voskamp, and Christian Retailing. She and her mother Dr. Helen McIntosh are the authors of Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters (Harvest House Publishers).

www.theblythedanielagency.com; www.ourmendedhearts.com