God didn’t ask for the able, He asked for you to become available.

The breeze coming through my window in the morning catches the fragrance of my first cup of coffee brewing by 5 a.m.

Suddenly, I have energy just by the scent and I’m tossing back the covers to reach for that cup of greatness.

I begin with an offering of my heart and then I release control over my pen. I’m too scared to try on my own, so I read through the Word and wrestle to my knees. My soul is intoxicated by the aroma of the Spirit. It fills my being and I consume slowly and deeply, as I do with my coffee.

There are many refills of both before I ever pick up that pen. The last bit is brimming when I feel ready to let it pour out on the pages and speak to someone else who may need what I just digested.

My past was buried under pages of perfection and I became too short on time to sort it out. Truthfully, there were struggles like fear and defeat that paralyzed my pen and made it easier to walk away from the words written down.

My control was carrying baggage with more than a thousand words from this journey through the valleys and mountain peaks that wasn’t worth much waiting on the fictitious day I could piece it together perfectly.

God is writing stories every day. We need only to be available. And willing to release control over the way He wants to write it.

When I write in cadence with the story of life, that’s what letting go of perfection looks like. These are drafts rough around the edges and it takes a lot of trust to let you see it. It takes a whole lot more faith to believe my Father in Heaven is going to work with it. And yet, that’s the life we were called to live, a life of faith.

Living in our creative expressions takes faith. God is painting a new picture now, of a girl running wild and free with the gift He gave her at birth.

The enemy has a plan for you, and it includes anything that will prevent a preview of this portrait the Artist has been painting.

So put it out there. Let go of control. Fear cripples creativity. Every professional started scribbling somewhere as an amateur. Practice by putting these gifts on display and watch what the Lord does with them.

Refine and rework the ridges tomorrow if you must, but for today splash the world in shades and strokes with whatever tools you have because time is running out. Perfection may have held you hostage but here’s permission to persevere.