What is the One Essential Tool for Writers? by Janis Cox

Thanks to Free Digital Photos.net

As Christian writers we are up against a formidable foe - Satan. That sneaky, sly fox uses everything at his disposal to pull us away from what God designs.

Taking a look at the writers I have met I can see writers who are:

• indecisive
• feeling unworthy
• too busy
• easily distracted
• burned out
• feeling frustrated, or angry 
• complaining
• judging others
• mistrustful
• living in disarray
• feeling helpless

But wait? Why do these Christians feels this way? Jesus has all ready won the battle with Satan.

Satan NO longer holds power over us.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33, NIV).

And by Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension we now have a straight clear access to the Father.

IF 

Yes there is an "if". We need to pray. 

Prayer is the essential tool in a writer's toolbox.

If you haven't made prayer a priority in your life, may I encourage you to learn more.

Let's be so intimate with Jesus that we live our lives full of prayer.

Join me at Under the Cover of Prayer  (#UTCOP) where we learn, practice and expand our communication with God.

This is will my last post for Inscribe as I am joining Kimberley Payne to write about prayer on her blog once a month. I also write about my relationship with God on my own blog called Under the Cover of Prayer. Each Sunday I post #SundayStillness where I have a place to link your posts. Join our community.

Prayer:

O Lord, help us as Christian writers to seek You every minute of the day, for every detail of our lives. Bless us as we expand our territories and as we write to glorify You and to spread the Good News. Thank you for bringing us together as Sisters and Brothers in Christ. Help us to encourage and pray for on another. We pray this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

May I pray for you? Send personal email requests to Under the Cover of Prayer.

A Scripture for the week:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthen in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Col. 2:6-7, NIV).

A thought for this week:

Knees were made for bending. When did you last use them in prayer?

Tweetable:

What is the one essential tool needed for writers?

Janis Cox

Janis, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. A writer since 2003, Janis co-ordinates a group blog called Under the Cover of Prayer. She is also a contributor to a group blog called Family and Faith Matters.

Janis is the author of the award winning children's book, Tadeo Turtle, published by Word Alive Press. She is the author and watercolour illustrator. For more information visit Janis on her website He Cares for You. She is a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe Writers Fellowship.

You can find her on Twitter - Author Janis Cox, Pinterest - Author Janis Cox, and Facebook Author Janis Cox.

Believing Prayer, by Janet Sketchley

Believing Prayer
by Janet Sketchley

Each year I attend Write! Canada, I start the conference with a headache. I blame it on the flight, lack of sleep, or an unfamiliar bed. A couple of painkillers later, and it’s gone.

Except for this year. Pills with breakfast didn’t work for long.

I’m Prayer Team Lead for The Word Guild. My main role for Write! Canada is to recruit other prayer volunteers and to be available to pray with people when and as needed.

Some of my best memories from the past few conferences are of those impromptu prayer connections. (Yes, the food, fellowship and professional development are excellent too.)

It’s one thing to pray for someone else. Quite another to ask for prayer. To confess a need.

Some time during that first day, I found myself in the bookstore talking with a couple of other attendees. Maybe one of them said I didn’t look so well. Or maybe she just asked how I was enjoying the conference so far.

I started to say everything was fine, then stopped. Asked for prayer. My head pounded even harder from the tension of admitting the need.

Bless their hearts, Judy and Ann prayed with me in a little huddle right there among the books and shoppers.

With tears in my eyes—gratitude and pain—I thanked them and went in search of Jan. She’s one of the Prayer Team Assistant Leads, a powerful intercessor and the owner of the Under the Cover of Prayer blog. More to the point, my drugs were locked inside her cabin.

Jan’s prayers joined the others’ and the pain only got worse. I swallowed a second dose of painkillers, hoping for a temporary reprieve.

Somewhere between the prayers and the next conference session, I thought I sensed God saying the pain wouldn’t bother me anymore.

It still hurt like crazy, but I decided to believe Him. I told Jan what I thought He’d said and that I wasn’t really sure about it.

By the time we walked into that next session, the pain had almost gone. Every time I felt its grip, I’d remind myself that it wasn’t going to bother me anymore. Then I’d think about something else.

I hadn’t been sure God spoke at all. Nor if He had, how long He’d meant. Long enough for the appointments I had that day? For the panel I was on?

That was back in June. The other day the pain came at me again. It swamped me for a few minutes, and then I looked at my husband and reminded myself aloud, “This isn’t going to bother me anymore.” I gave the spot a gentle rub and promised to hit the medicine cabinet if the pain didn’t go.

It went.

I don’t know how long “anymore” is. But I intend to enjoy it. Caught myself wishing in prayer this morning that God had said something about that ache in my hip....

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For devotionals, reviews and conversation, stop by Janet Sketchley's blog, God with Us: Finding Joy.