how to be ready in season and out
This morning when my alarm went off I was in the middle of a dream...
I was on tour with a group of other speakers, and had just been asked to lead worship for the morning and afternoon sessions. In my dream, I was aware that I was there as a speaker, NOT a worship leader, and I remember feeling SEEN, VALIDATED and EXCITED about the opportunity to do my favorite thing - SING! So I went into the bathroom to get myself into the “worship” zone…
And then - dang it - I woke up.
In my dream, I remember feeling both nervous AND ready...
An hour later I was sitting in my morning chair asking Jesus what he wanted me to know today, and as I started praying for a friend who is longing for new opportunity in the field of their gifting, I felt led to this phrase I always heard my dad say when I was growing up:
“…be ready in season and out…” (2 Tim. 4:2).
This got me thinking about all the creatives I know - including myself - who struggle to feel motivated creatively when there’s not a lot happening on that front in our lives. So I figured I’d share a little encouragement for all of us today.
The simple fact is, it can be easy to fall out of readiness in our giftings during the “in-between” times of using them fully. The wise creative resists this temptation.
Our gifts are more than gifts; they are an essential part of who we were created to be. When we put them on the shelf, it’s like cutting off part of our body. And then we wonder why we feel less alive, and begin to lose hope that we’ll ever realize our creative dreams.
While it is highly possible we may not attain the pinnacle of OUR dreams, it is also true that we have everything we need - through Jesus - to attain HIS dreams for our lives. To do so, we must choose to stay ‘fluent’ in our giftings, so we can remain more connected to our true identity, which positions us to more readily recognize and walk in what God created us to do next.
Do you need to get back into the flow of using your gifts? Here are three areas to get you started…
TIME - Establish a creative “zone” in the daily (or at the very least, weekly) rhythm of your life, during which you invest time in exercising your gifting. Depending on your starting point, this could be five minutes or five hours. The AMOUNT of time is less important than the REGULARITY of the rhythm you establish. If you think you don’t have any time for this, borrow some from other activities that are less rewarding, such as time spent on screens. The truth is, we all have the time we need for the things we prioritize.
TALENT - Be intentional about engaging in the activity of using your gifts as a matter of course, not just when you have a specific opportunity coming up. If you’re a musician, play your instrument. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a singer, do your vocal warm-ups. EVERY DAY. Even when there’s nothing exciting on the horizon. By staying fluent in your creative language(s) you are keeping your muscles in shape so it’s an easy “yes” when someone asks you to flex them. This also helps you walk more frequently in the FULLNESS of your identity, which helps both you and others see you rightly, which can lead to open doors you might otherwise miss.
TREASURE - Look for opportunities to invest in activities that stimulate and/or strengthen your creative language, as well as those that expand your creative network. This might mean registering for a workshop or creative intensive, attending a concert or exhibition, joining a creative community, or doing other activities that inspire you. You might feel like spending money on things like these is a luxury, but it’s actually essential. And remember, we can generally find the money we need for the things we prioritize.
Finally, don’t walk alone…
We all need cheerleaders. We all need to be SEEN and KNOWN by others who REFLECT what is TRUE about how God made us. If you don’t have anyone like this in your life yet, ask Jesus to open your eyes to finding them. It might feel a little vulnerable at first, but the rewards far outweigh the risks. And don’t forget YOUR part in helping cheerlead OTHER creatives. It’s a two-way street, friends. We all need each other.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and toying with an idea about how to help create more spaces for this on a broader level. (More on that in a later post.)
In the meantime, I’m gonna hit “send” on this email, and hop onto doing my vocal warmups.
They don’t sound pretty, but they DO keep me ready…
For TRUTH…
- cr
