David Meigs is a novelist with a background in youth outreach, specializing in ministry to at-risk youth and their families. Though his writing is enjoyed by all ages, his novels provide a unique, life-changing quality, critical for the youth of today. David and his family lives in Seabeck, Washington.

(I want to say a quick thank-you to all of you who wrote to me about last month’s controversial subject concerning how the topic of cannabis should be handled inside the Christian inspirational fiction we write. After cannabis was legalized in Washington state—where I live—it seemed appropriate to start the discussion. I cannot reveal any opinions, but I can say that they were across to board. It is not too late to join the discussion. Please write to me at davidmeigs@gmail.com if you have an opinion.)

In Revelation 2:1–7, the Lord delivers a heart-wrenching message to the church of Ephesus. First, the Lord praises their strengths, their hard work, and their perseverance keeping themselves pure. Then, Jesus warned them that they had fallen from a great height in their love for Him and His people. The spirit of the Lord revealed that His devoted servants had neglected what was most important: true love for God and man.

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. January has, for me, become a time of evaluating my walk with God and my relationships with His people. In computer terms, it is time for a fresh reboot of my walk with the Lord. I ask God to shake up my life and rekindle my love for Him. I take for granted that I am in need of a tune-up in my walk with the Lord.

God promises that we will be fruitful in our place of ministry, which for us is writing, but only if we have surrendered our hearts to the love of God. In John 15:9–17, the Lord shared His last words with His disciples before being taken from them. He

told them that He loved them and commanded them to love one another. I believe that these last words were dearest to the heart of Jesus. The closest comparison I can come up with are my last conversations with my oldest son each time he left for another tour in the Middle East. I saved my most important words for those last minutes. I wanted him to know I loved him and most of all to take care of his relationship with Jesus.

Inside these verses in John, the Lord gave us the key to fruitfulness: to remain in His love. That means to keep our minds in sync with the mind of Christ. It also means that we need to take special care of all the relationships we have. That especially goes for those relationships that are most difficult for us.

What better gift could we receive as inspirational novelists than to learn firsthand what it means to work through those hardest of relationships as God commands us? Moreover, how can we hope to show readers the path to a healthy walk with God? The answer is that we can’t. We can take others only to places we have been ourselves.

I would encourage you to spend some time alone with the Lord. Ask the Lord to reveal those areas where you need to grow in your love for Him and His people.

Until next month, may God bless all you write for Him.