Cindy Powell

Spring break may be over for most schools, but I’m just beginning mine.

I’m taking a Spring writing break. 

Well, I guess it is more of a break from ‘format’ and consistency than anything else. I don’t think I’m going to actually stop writing or posting for any length of time, I’m just stepping back and reviewing things. I’m going to mix things up and give myself the freedom to post what I want, when I want, and in any format that seems to work at the moment.

I’ve actually been mulling this over for a while.  I do that from time to time when the whole thing seems to be getting a bit stale. And it does feel stale when I start to feel like I’m being faithful to a self-imposed deadline and format–rather than faithful to the present-tense leading of the Holy Spirit.  

I’ve written before about the “dance” between being inspired and being intentional …

And I still don’t have it figured out.

So I just keep on dancing. When I’m being kind to myself, I figure I’m just re-evaluating. When I’m being less kind, I figure I’m kind of fickle.  But either way, more than anything, I just want to follow HIM.  When I started the Monday morning devotions, I really did sense the Lord’s presence on it. And I definitely think he was in it … for a while. 

But the cloud has moved. 

So I’m moving too.  I’m moving because I want to move with him.  I want to move with him a heck of a lot more than I want to be consistent! I do want to be faithful — and I do want to be fruitful — but I also want what I write to be fresh and alive.  There is nothing scarier to me than going on auto-pilot (and that is so much easier to do than we tend to think it is). I don’t want to draw on yesterday’s revelation and relationship, I want fresh revelation–today. I want the things I write to be fresh and alive–today. 

I want my love to be fresh and alive–today. 

So I’m throwing out what seemed to be right for yesterday, and I’m seeking his heart for today. Maybe he’ll lead me down those same “ancient paths” again in the near future, maybe he won’t.  The one thing I do know is this: He will lead me.

He’ll lead you too.“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9).  

Is there somewhere you need a Spring break? Something you need to reevaluate? Something you need to stop doing? Something you need to start doing? Sometimes you just need a break from confusion by recognizing and reaffirming the things you need to keep doing.  If he hasn’t moved–don’t move out on your own!

Whatever your Spring break may be, enjoy the beauty of the season.  Because Spring is always a time of new growth …

And new hope.