Blogger: Rachel Kent
Here are some verses that are wonderful for everyone, but I believe they can be especially helpful for Christian writers. I put a little line about when I think they could be helpful, but they could apply to other circumstances as well. I hope something here touches you today.
1) A verse for when you face discouragement or rejection: Colossians 3:23-24 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. (NLT)”
2) A verse for your book release day or for before author talks or book signings: Deuteronomy 31:6 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (NLT)”
3) A verse for when a deadline is approaching and you feel overwhelmed: Philippians 4:6- 7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)”
4) A verse for when you are wondering why you write: Matthew 28:18-20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ (NLT)”
5) A verse for when you feel overwhelmed, fearful, or alone: Psalm 46: 1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (NLT)”
6) When you need to refocus: 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (NLT)”
7) When you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere with your writing: Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (NLT)”
8 ) When you are questioning your value as a writer or when you are facing financial struggles: Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (NLT)”
9) When you are tired or weary: Isaiah 40: 30-31 “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)”
10) When waiting gets tough: Lamentations 3:24-25 “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; (NIV)”
Did one of these verses speak to you today? Which one?
Is there a verse that’s not listed here that has been especially helpful to you in your writing journey?
Good News/Bad News for Writers
2 Samuel 11:21 – the Bible’s stalwart hero.
And when the sages ask,
why went ye nigh the wall?
what brought you to this task?
and Uriah is dead withal.
He stood when bade his ease
for those unable to partake;
stepped past common mores
for a soldier’s honour’s sake.
He took his place of duty,
though scorned, and thus betrayed;
for a ruler’s lust for beauty
he was in a cold grave laid.
A minor man, and the hero’s part,
he is the Bible’s beating heart.
Love you point of view, Andrew. And your poem. God bless, my friend.
Mary Kay, thank you so much!
Rachel, your #2 is powerful for me today… Deuteronomy 31:6 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (NLT)”
Though not for book release day , but query & proposal launch day!
Thanks for refocusing us on Scripture.
Also, would love to hear which books your nephew selected from the bookstore. 🙂
He selected The Tesla Legacy by K.K. Perez, something with “Fire” in the title (I didn’t get a good look.), and The Princess Bride.
I also let him borrow my copy of Blink by Ted Dekker.
Rachel, this is SO cool I am going to pull it into a Word document and print it out to keep handy. I love what you have done here.
And having received a “thanks but no thanks” just last week, #1 was timely for me.
I agree Damon. This needs to be front and center for me as well.
Thanks! 🙂 I’m glad it’s useful and timely.
Thank you for this post, Rachel! Lamentations 3:24-25 is especially helpful because waiting on the Lord is a discipline I constantly need help with. Ephesians 3:20-21 hangs above my writing desk as an encouragement that God is able to do far more abundantly than anything I ask or imagine with my writing!
Wow, Rachel, your timing is wonderful in many ways! I love them all!
One of my favorites for when I don’t know which way to go in a story:
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (KJV)
I believe I heard that from Jan Karon.
Thank you!
Rachel, thank you for your words of encouragement today. The verse I needed to hear: 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ” God bless you!
Each one of these verses is speaking to me in different ways. Thank you for sharing these Scriptures. Have a blessed week! 🙂
I love that you shared these verses. Some verses just seem to be able change our attitude instantly if we take a minute to remember them. I have been posting a verse on my blog every Monday for this reason. My hope is that my readers will think about the verse throughout the week, and it will be easier for them to remember it when they next need the encouragement. The verse that I often quote to myself is 2 Corinthians 12:9. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
If I may, another reference to a bit of Scripture, Mark 4:49-40.
Anyone thinks they’re reading an SOS in the lines below, you’re right.
Christ bade the wind and waves be still
when with the homies He went sailing,
so I bend to courage with a will,
but on this day, I am failing.
Pain now brings forth what was hidden
and the response so long delayed
in the form of tears unbidden,
for I am sore afraid.
The cup I’ve taken burns my hands
and within it there is poison,
for nightshade grows in cancer’s lands
and this is its killing season.
Abba, keep me free from harms
in Thy Everlasting Arms!
Oh, Andrew ~ Praying for vast measures of holy comfort and peace encompassing you, my friend.
You are in our prayers, Andrew!
Thank you for this post, Rachel. I’m going to print it and keep it handy!
I love our God so very much. Yesterday and this morning have been brutal for my spirit. Yesterday I had a major meltdown with my husband who is my greatest supporter after God. This morning, I went through the whole, “who do I think I am?, what do I have to say that anyone needs?, why do I think I am spiritual enough to share God’s word with anyone else?” And yes, through God’s word, I fought the enemy’s attack.
And then I opened my email and this blog greeted me with words of encouragement and a good, swift kick where I needed it. Many of these verses spoke directly to my meltdown yesterday. I would add two, Ephesians 2:10 and Luke 1:45 have been my life’s verses especially in relation to writing.
Thank you, Rachel, for putting this out there. I hope God never ceases to amaze me by addressing our needs in exactly the way and time we need.
Susan, I always loo forward to your comments here. You speak with such powerful grace and wisdom!
Wow! Thank you for the encouragement today, Andrew. The feeling is mutual.
Aww, I am so glad this was meaningful to you and others!
These are wondeful, Rachel! Thank you.
Here are two of my favorites.
When you’re tempted to compare yourself to other writers: “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Galatians 6:4-5 in the Message.
And for when we’re feeling burned out or are guilty of taking our writing journey a little too seriously, Ecclesiastes 12:12 NASB: “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”
Great additions!
They ALL spoke to me! Thank you!
An impressive and inspiring list, for writing and other endeavors in life. Thank you for it.
A verse I came upon this year has helped me as I’ve been transitioning from the workforce to retirement, a part of Psalm 57:8
“I will awaken the dawn.”
That speaks to me of anticipating the day, expecting accomplishment, and reveling on God’s goodness.
Such a good verse.
I love this, Rachel. Thank you. My first bible contained something similar to this in its back pages. Just about every problem or every feeling you could have was listed and a verse was given to help. Those pages were worn thin by this girl.
Rachel, this was such an encouragement to me. In fact, I’ve printed it out and will keep it handy (don’t tell Michelle I’m using paper again). Thank you.
Thanks to all who added verses, too! I love the list we’ve created.
Yes, Numbers 4, 8 and 9. I’m writing a novel. I don’t know why I’m writing a novel. I’ve been very lonely after my friends stopped talking to me and this idea for a story kept coming into my mind – almost like God was telling me to go write it. I ignored him. I wasn’t interested. But then I would see scenes – almost like a movie in my head. I couldn’t shut it off. Finally I said “fine! I’ll write it.” I started it and I’m a little stuck right now on that particular story but I now have ideas for three more fiction books and am 55,000 words into the one. I tell myself “my friends have abandoned me, no one reads my blog and no one will read my book so why am I bothering writing this all down?” But, yet, I feel like I am supposed to keep writing so I am. When I see a scene in my head I get up and I dutifully record it – not sure where a couple of my stories are going (in some aspects, in others I know). I don’t know what God’s plans are for my writing – maybe he just wants me to do it so I don’t focus on the loneliness. I’m enjoying the process, even if nothing ever comes of it. So glad to have found your blog and site.