Help me welcome author and blogger Sandra Kay Vosburgh as she shares about visions and books. Please read through to the end to learn how to enter a random drawing for 2 free print books (US only).

Where’s Your Vision?

One of my favorite hymns is “Be Thou My Vision.” Perhaps because it’s often my prayer. I tend to look at people, and when I grow discouraged by comparison, I have to ask the Holy Spirit to refocus my vision on Jesus Christ.  

What or who are you focusing on today? At others and their successes? At yourself and your failures?

We read in Hebrews 12, … stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith … (Hebrews 12:1-2, AMP).

It goes on to say, Just consider and meditate on Him … so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (vs.3). Have you grown weary? Are you losing heart? Then turn your focus on Jesus.

At a writers’ conference a couple years ago, I was in my hotel room feeling a bit past prime. So many writers there were much younger (I’m 70), and I felt no agent or publisher would invest in a high-milage vehicle when a newer model promised a more profitable ride. Also, I felt my vocal tremor would put them off. After all, publishers expect their authors to do podcasts and speaking engagements.

I was looking at my negatives, my weaknesses, my handicaps and not at the One who calls and equips. I was looking at people instead of meditating on Jesus. A pastor once said, “Looking at people will ruin your life.” I think we all understand his meaning.

In my room that evening, I opened my Bible and read, Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (I Timothy 4:12). To me it said, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because of your age.”

Don’t let anyone look down on you because of your handicap, or because of your weak platform, or because you use too many cliches in your writing.

We cannot stop someone from dismissing us or discounting us, or even rejecting our work, but Paul was telling Timothy don’t let anyone’s perception or opinion stop you from doing what God has called you to do. 

And we, ourselves, should never allow what we perceive to be a hindrance to our ministry lead to discouragement and result in disobedience. We don’t know how God will use us, but we must remain restfully available for His purposes.

With all the training we receive as writers, let’s not neglect training our eyes to look only to Jesus Christ. Not on ourselves, not on others, but on the One who has called us to write for His glory alone.

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Link to books: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Collector-Sackets-Harbor-Mysteries/dp/1649172125

About Sandra Kay:

Sandra Kay Vosburgh is a Bible teacher, women’s ministry director, and pastor’s wife. Her Sackets Harbor Mysteries series, set in the beautiful Thousand Island area, has won numerous awards, and The Girl in Her (to be released in November 2024) won the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Foundation Award.