Anointing

I've been deep into the research for my latest contracted book for Prism Book Group called Love Does Not Dishonor. When I say deep into the research, I really mean it. The storyline requires that I know something about inherited diseases as well as Amish rumspringa. Now that's a mix!

As I waded through a huge database for inherited diseases, God led me to exactly what I needed. Stay with me here. With the amount of diseases that I had to read through, God had to lead me to the exact two that I needed. I could just feel His Spirit's nudging as I've discussed on this blog before.

Sunday I experienced another nudge. I felt God telling me to pray for an anointing on the words and message of this book. Now, I didn't really even know what that would mean so I looked up anoint in my Bible dictionary.

Anoint - The purpose of sacred anointing was to dedicate the thing or person to God. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit, empowering them for a particular work in the service of God.

When I read that definition, I could see why I might want to pray for anointing on my story. That act would be one of dedicating those words to God and empowering the message to accomplish what God has planned in the reader.

Consider these verses about anointing:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
1 John 2:20, 27
"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth."
"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him."

As a Christian I've been anointed with the Holy Spirit. That Spirit in me not only marks me as one of God's children, but it works within me to teach me.

So in accordance with this, I ask God to anoint my words that they may accomplish what is set forth for them to accomplish. My part is to remain in Christ and pay attention to the Spirit's teaching.

Do you have something that God wants to accomplish through you? Have you "anointed" it? Are you paying close attention to the Spirit's instructions?