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Recently, I have been sharing my devotional writings with the people at work. I have had people ask me, "How you do it?" "Where do the ideas come from?" "How long does it take to write one?" "Can you write one about this or about that?" or "Here is an idea that you can write about." All of these are very good points, except that I find myself giving one simple reply: "It just comes to me." But we know that it really isn't that simple, and from my perspective, it isn't an accurate statement. The inspiration is given to me as a believer in Christ: nothing is my own; I was bought at a price.

It comes from time spent with Jesus; it comes from reading my Bible and spending time in a relationship with Him. I can fool myself and say, "Oh, I am in a dry spell right now," when I don't have anything to write about, or I don't have the time, or I don't feel like writing. When it comes down to it, I never have time, and if I waited until I felt like it, it would probably never happen. As for the dry spell, that comes from not spending time in the Word and not developing my relationship with Jesus. The truth of the matter is that it is God-breathed and God-inspired. How do I know that? If you were to read notes and messages that I leave at work, you would see words missing and sentences that don't make any sense at times. When God gives it to me to write, I just know that I know it is from Him. His topics are clear and precise. I get into difficulty when I fail to hear how He wants it written and how He wants it shared. This is where the editors come in, and I have to trust that they are in a relationship with Jesus and giving advice based on that.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

For me, I just know in my heart that Jesus wants me to share. It stays with me, and I have learned to stop what I am doing and sit down and put it on paper. Sometimes, I can write the whole devotional in a mere few minutes — that's Jesus. Other times, it's just a thought or a Scripture that develops over time into a devotional. So to say "It just comes" is not giving credit to the One who gives it to me. From now on, I need to be saying that it comes from the heart of Jesus to me. I write it down, and people are blessed and challenged in their walk. And as I have learned, lives are changed because of Him.

Believe me, there is something for each of us that God has put into our lives to do. So whatever it is, find out if you don't know, and begin to do it with Him as the centre. If you are already on track, then continue to follow His lead in your life and bless others.

1 Corinthians 7:24 – So, dear brothers and sisters, whatever situation you were in when you became a believer, stay there in your new relationship with God. (NLT)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Spirit Who lives within us. Without Your Spirit, we are just flesh. Help us daily to shed the flesh and put on Your garments of love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Julie Bowles