(I am honored to have my post featuring at Godly Writers today. It’s titled “When Will I Start Making Money from my Blog”. I’d love for you to drop by and check it out. Please share your thoughts at comments too!)
Currently, a popular way of launching books is through online launch teams.
Many authors are taking advantage of this brilliant strategy by reaching out to fellow writers/bloggers and asking for help.
Launching Your Dreams
As the year begins, I believe many people will put together personal “launch teams” of sorts.
After getting our goals together, some of us will ask a friend, mentor, support group, (and if you are Kimanzi, the whole world) to keep you accountable/help you in the goal achievement process.
Personally I think that many will have God in their”launch team”.
We’ll inquire of Him, pray over our desires and goals and commit everything to Him.
But then some of us will soon forget that God is not just part of a launch team.
He’s the one that holds everything together.
He’s the Giver, Launcher and Completer of dreams.
In John 6:35, Jesus declares that He is the “…the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”
I love Gill’s exposition of this verse (in part)
“Christ the true bread only gives life which is conveyed by the word and made effectual by the spirit and because He supports and maintains the life He gives it is not in the power of the believer to support the spiritual life He has; nor can he live on anything short of Christ (emphasis mine)
Without God, there’s no team, no dream to launch.
A flourishing Christian life, which includes setting goals/forming new habits is not sustained by human effort.
No passion, fervor, determination or support will bring our deepest desires to pass.
Personally, I have this belief that God gives us dreams so that we can watch Him bring them to pass.
We have our part to play of course.
But our role is more more like that of a little child helping his father do some repairs. Without the dad, the child can do nothing. But with the Father, the child can do something. The father is the master builder, the child is a helper.
So often we confuse our roles and begin to see ourselves as the master builders and God as a helper (You click to tweet that)
And so we stop relying, inquiring, depending and trusting Him. And we soon
- lose hope
- find the road insanely impossible
- become depressed
- give up
- get mad at God
You can’t do it alone
Jon Morrow, one of the biggest bloggers in the world wrote a great article recently.
On why most bloggers fail, he says
“It isn’t a lack of talent. It’s not bad luck. It has nothing to do with traffic. The problem is Superman Syndrome.”
(you should read the entire article, “Suicide, Shame, and the Painful Truth about Accomplishing Your Goals”)
As you set goals and create new habits for 2013, as you begin to walk and work them out, keep in mind that
- He is God, you are not
- if He gave you a dream, He will very well bring it to pass
- still, He’s more interested in your character and growth more than your outward success
- He’s a nice Person and He’s not out to get you (He doesn’t tease)
- hard work does not replace faith…and faith does not replace hard work.
Your part in 2013?
Accept His dream and get to work
His part? (as it’s always been)
Give, launch and complete your dream.
Question – In what ways can we show our reliance on God? Any specific steps you can share? Please share your thoughts in Comments.
Amen Mamora..no other way to find the God-kind of success!
Great encouraging post. I am on the verge of preparing the launch of my book Vision Impact! and your post made me think about the reason I wrote the book. I want God to head the launch of my books and not me.
Thank you for coming by Bernard. Congratulations on the book! Am glad the post helped you think deeper on the launch. When He heads the process (all through), it’s turns out all good 🙂
Wow, thanks for the mention 🙂
You are welcome Kimanzi 🙂
God is in control, not part of the launch team but the whole. I have come to learn that in my walk with God. How to show reliance on God…here are some steps:
Stop worrying.
Ask what is burdening your heart.
Cast your cares upon Jesus. Whatever it is, even your need to feel as if you need to be in control.
Give thanks because God hears and answers.
Listen to His direction and receive His peace and trust Him to work.
Continue doing what you can.
JepB, thank you for sharing these steps. They are great steps (and timely!). Taking time to absorb them. Thanks so much for reading and sharing
Great post…I love the five things you say to keep in mind as we set goals and create habits for 2013. The only specific step that comes to mind is “trust”…nothing gives God more glory then our trust in Him even when things look the bleakest. And nothing helps me trust more then being in a situations where I cannot control the outcome. Also it helps to focus on His goal for me which is becoming more Christlike instead of my goals. Now I am jumping over to Jon Morrow site. Blessings
Wonderful thoughts Betty, thank you so much for sharing them. I needed this reminder today 🙂 Thanks for clicking through to Jon’s site, it’s one of those reality-check posts.
This is a very encouraging post. I’m in the midst of my book launch,
and I have to constantly remind myself it’s all about Him & not me. John the Baptist said it best: He must increase, I must decrease.
Great post.
Thanks Dave, am blessed the post has been encouraging. Looking forward to help you with the book!
This is so good, Ngina. I love your word picture of us being the little kid helping his dad. If I think of it that way, the little kid doesn’t care what the dad is doing. He just loves being with him and getting a chance to help. My goal all along has been to write in fellowship with God but this word picture will help me remember that, I think. Just the mental imagery helps you have that focus. Thanks! Plus I love the links you gave – some fun posts by other bloggers.
This is great perspective Barb “it doesn’t matter what the dad is doing, he just loves being with him and helping him”. I love that. It adds a new dimension..thanks so much for sharing.
Am glad you enjoyed the links.
Thanx Ngina for sharing on our focus of the Great I am. The song “Potter’s Hand’ reminds of my position and that of my creator’s – reliance on Him is re focused. With my dreams He has more work to do than me (like getting the right people, opportunities, my attention, making sure the end product matches the vision and bigger than what I dream of and finally taking care of the obstacles along the way and turn them into experiences and worthwhile lessons) I just have to follow on the path He has set for me!
Kez, so good to have you here! I love how you’ve laid it out…that’s a whole blog post in there 🙂 Thanks so much for coming by, reading and sharing.
I like the illustration of us as the child helping the Father.
I think we have to seek Him in the study of Him and His will first. After that our desire seem to align more with His and life and all that goes into it get infinitely easier.
Nice job. Great points.
I like your points Floyd. Seeking Him first and His will is foundational…then the rest flows from there.
Ngina, thanks for the mention on this post. Always trust you to share so gracefully. The other day, I desperately wanted to write (blog) but I knew God was saying, “Don’t. Never make it about you but ME”. That reminded me I’m only a pen in the Hands of a Ready Writer. That’s my latest reliance (on God) lesson!
Amen Joseph, isn’t it amazing the kind of things God teaches us through writing? pen in the Hands of a Ready Writer – that is powerful. Thanks so much for sharing
Being a Christian allows me to view my problems and failures in a certain light. They can become welcomed hiccups in my life because they show me that I am just a created being and not the creator. They keep me humble. They grow me. And who I am is way more important to God than what I do.
Great insight Loren. And I love the last part – it’s something I’ve learned and continue to learn – God is more interested in me than in what I can do for Him. Thanks so much for sharing
I think getting outside of our comfort zones to start doing even more of what our God given purpose is shows our reliance to Him. The daily surrender to our own will and self is essential. Great post and thoughts!
Great additions Dan – stepping out and daily surrender are great steps in showing our reliance. Thank you so much for sharing