Alrighty, I've been a Christian for say, 3 years and oddly enough, this question has barely crossed my mind; what does it mean to give something to God? Today was one of the first times I'd ever really thought of it, even though it's something that's pretty much mentioned in every sermon I've ever been to.

So, mini-story.

As some of you know (and as is blazoned on my profile, facebook, and pretty much evident in almost everything I do) I want to be a writer. (Stop laughing. <.<) And as most of you who've RPed with me could tell, I'm not exactly good. I'm extremely self-critical, and today I was trying to write something and got horribly frustrated. I remembered how I'd heard so many times that if you give something to God, He can use it and make it worth something.

Urg... I sound like I'm trying to say, "Okay, tell me how I can get God to be my agent and make me good at writing and successful and rich and what not..." No. I'm just wondering; how do you give a talent, dream, gift, whatever back to God?
Does that mean everything I write has to be Christian?
I know it should give glory to God, but even then I'm struggling to figure out what giving glory to God even means. It's something I hear so much, it's my answer to questions in Sunday School, but what in the world is it? And how do you give it?

And while I'm at it, why stick to just giving God a talent? How do I give him EVERYTHING? I mean, I'm already a Christian, so He's got my soul, but what about the rest of my life? It's just so hard to hear Him sometimes over all the noise in my life currently...


Whoooo... that was long. O_o Sum up for people who actually want to answer:

1. How do you give a dream back to God? In my case specifically (wanting to be a writer) how does that apply?
2. Giving glory to God? <--Mkay, that's not a question. I'm just sorta wondering how you actually give it.
3. How do I give God everything? Is this a matter of trust?
4. Didn't mention this before; where is the line drawn between trusting in God for something and sitting around doing nothing and waiting for a miracle? Would action be considered taking matters into my own hands, sorta like Abraham and Sarah did? Or would it be more like that servant in the parable who went and prepared his fields for rain? (Don't know where that parable's located, I just heard it off Facing the Giants XD )
5. How can I discern the voice and calling of God over my own personal wants and desires?

Mkay, I know a lot of these questions seem pretty basic for someone who's been saved 3 years and has been going to church since like, before she was born. Truth is, these past few years, growth in my life has been pretty... nonexistent. So, I'm pretty much back to the basics.


God bless!

-Karen (I felt that since this was a serious topic, I should sign my name. I expect anyone who answers to sign their name after their post as well <.< XD jk)

Hey, I saw this, and I was kinda interested in your topic. So I thought I would respond with my thoughts..

1. "How do you give a dream back to God? In my case specifically (wanting to be a writer) how does that apply?"

I know this is one of those stupid, vague answers that really doesn't help a great deal, but it can be different for everyone. God's plan is different for everyone. You can't exactly expect him to lump you into the "Christian Writers Category". There's no mold.

Maybe God wants you to write Christian literature. But maybe not. Maybe he wants you to reach out to those you meet through your writing. Maybe he wants to to be an example and a light to others. Maybe he wants you to just have a willing heart to do what he asks. I don't know, to be honest.

2. "Giving glory to God? <--Mkay, that's not a question. I'm just sorta wondering how you actually give it."

I personally think this is more of an attitude issue than anything else. I think God wants us to recognize that our talents are given to us by Him. He wants us to be prepared to use them for Him if He asks it of us.

3. "How do I give God everything? Is this a matter of trust?"

I would say a large amount of it comes down to trust. And also to putting God first. God wants to be first in our lives. He doesn't want anything to be before Him, like pride, love of money, or anything else.

4. "Didn't mention this before; where is the line drawn between trusting in God for something and sitting around doing nothing and waiting for a miracle? Would action be considered taking matters into my own hands, sorta like Abraham and Sarah did? Or would it be more like that servant in the parable who went and prepared his fields for rain? (Don't know where that parable's located, I just heard it off Facing the Giants XD )"

Well, God wants us to trust him, but He also helps those who help themselves. If I had a test tomorrow and I didn't study, then prayed, "God, help me do well on this test", most likely, I'm gonna fail the test. If you want God to help you, you need to be prepared to do some work. Faith without action does little good.

Maybe He wants you to be practicing your talents. Maybe He wants you to be heavily in prayer. Once again, it's different for different people.

5. "How can I discern the voice and calling of God over my own personal wants and desires?"

I've heard when a person is out of their calling, something they can tell. Sometimes they feel miserable. And they'll realize they're being pulled the other way. I don't know if this is always true or not. But this is just something that comes down to praying, seeking God's will, asking Him to open the doors, and keeping a willing heart.

I know that most of this information was probably no help at all... but I thought I would try.

~~~ Jacob

(P.S. What are you talking about, those of us who RP with you know you're not good? You're an AWESOME RPer!)

1. You let go of it. You pray something like "God, I really want to be a writer. But even more than I want to be a writer, I want to do what you have called me to do. Whether that involves writing or not, let your will be done. Make your desires my desires." This is connected to question three, so see also my response there. Awesome book to read on this very subject: The Dream Giver

2. Your life should be an act of worship. See Romans 12. Also, people use this expression to mean that something was all by God's grace, and they couldn't have done it themselves. Some people are more sincere than others when they use in this phrase in that way...

3. Yes, definitely a matter of trust. ABSOLUTE SURRENDER is one of my all time favorites and, as the title suggests, it is about giving your all to God. You can download this book for free or read it online with the link provided.

4. Very good question...not sure I have the answer. I would err on the side of prayer...I believe if you pray right, right actions should be the fruit. Our outward life should spring from our inward life with God...working on that one myself here.

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
(1 John 2:4-6)

In other words if when live in constant communion with God, this enables us to live right.

5. See again absolute surrender. Again, working on this one myself. Maybe someone else can provide a better answer...I'm still in progress on this one. I can give you the advice I have been given, which is taken from R. A. Torrey's book "The Presence and Work of the Holy Spirit"

1. Acknowledge our Lack (We don't know what we should do)
2. Absolute Surrender (This is my phrasing, not his, but same concept) (Desire God's will over ours)
3. Ask for guidance

This ends steps from book. I will throw in here to quiet yourself before God, and just listen. This hard for me...

Hope all this helps,

Nicholas (Just for you Karen )

You beat me, Artist. Now I know why I like you.

The most important thing is to be satisfied with Christ. God wants something more than a book, service, or even praise from you. He just wants you. The only way to go about this is by actively giving yourself over to Him. You obviously have to pray and study. God will speak to you if you read His Book. Just meditate on each verse, considering what God could be saying to you through that scripture. If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your conscience, give that scripture some serious thought. It may just be a word, a small, group of words, or more, but just be willing to take whatever God says.

James 1:21 "Wherefore lay apart all filthiniess and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

Once you receive it with meekness, put it into action (James goes on to talk about that too). You'll grow this way, and the more you grow the more God can use you. Of course above that, is that you'll please God, and you'll be able to thank Him for enabling you to do that which He desires.

Regarding 4, I'll just give an example. If you were going to go to college, would it make sense to just pray and wait on an answer? No. Waiting on the Lord would be going out and looking into colleges, visiting campuses, speaking with the staff, etc. and then prayerfully approaching the situation to see what would be the best choice. There isn't necessarily going to be a strong compulsion to do something, but you have to be wise and consider the route which makes the most sense.

If you were in a burning building, but God gave you an escape route, would it make more sense to wait for the Holy Spirit to compel you to move, or to just take the way of escape?

We have to take action if God is going to do anything. Of course it was obviously the wrong thing to do in the case of Abraham and Sarah, first and foremost because adultery is a sin, and secondly because God had already told them what He was going to do for them, and yet they sought it a different way. It was a lack of faith, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

In the most absurd mistakes of my life, I went against God's will knowingly. There wasn't a voice or a feeling telling me that what I was doing was wrong, but common sense told me that God has put me here for a reason, with certain tools, and that I should use those as He's appointed to me. However, I sought things outside of that, and certainly enough I failed on my own.

To sum it all up, if you're seeking God, you can't go wrong. He'll reveal what He wants you to do little by little, only continue to trust and desire Him with an unquenchable thirst.

If I were going to suggest a book, I would suggest "How to Listen to God" by Charles Stanley. I don't usually like to recommend modern authors, and I'm not familiar with most of Stanley's work, but a dear friend gave it to me and there are three chapters that helped me out worlds.

And well this pretty much addresses 5 too. So God bless! I'd be happy to help if you have any more questions.

- Rayn (not as awesome now that Artist has done it...)

I'm not going to write a fancy reply like the other guys did, but I have a few wise words for you. God says that you should use your talents to bring in more for the kindom of God. Why don't you write about your spiritual walk with God and share it in online blogs. Basically Just use the talent you have been given, to serve god and spread his word.

If you can dream it , you can live it.
God Bless.

I just wanted to put my name!

~Isaiah!

lol...ill put a response when i get the chance

Yay! Thank you all for the responses, this is helping a LOT!

And Artist, I have read Dream Giver. Actually, when I made this thread I had it specifically in mind. To be honest, I'd heard the audiobook, but I hadn't really listened to all of it, so I might try it again.

Thanks again all!