Tag: discouraged

Pithy Prayer July 26th, 2018

by atozmom, posted in Pithy Prayers

Image result for nature journal writing girlHoly God, I confess that I get discouraged enduring hardships. I sometimes wonder where you are and why you have forgotten me. Deep in my heart, dear Father, I know you are there. But sometimes, O God, it is difficult to keep my faith burning brightly when I don’t hear your voice or see you face to face. Please strengthen my heart with your Holy Spirit and help me “see” you in a fresh way so that I will open myself to you and be tuned more perfectly to your service.

Loving God, Rock and Refuge of my soul, thank you for giving me the experiences I’ve had in my life. Thank you for the abilities you placed in me while you fashioned me in my mother’s womb. Thank you for the gifts your Spirit molded in me when I became your child. Now, dear Father, please help me to know how and where I am to use these gifts in your Kingdom and to bless those in the world, so that I can help bring others to you, help build up the Body of Christ, and bless your people.

Lord, you know me better than I know myself. Search the deepest parts of my heart for anything that is displeasing to you. Cleanse me of my wandering ways and lead me in your good and righteous way.

Amen.

The Enemy

by atozmom, posted in Faith, Writing

Lately, I’ve been very discouraged with the progress of my book.  It’s done but I’m still trying to find a literary agent to no avail.  Every time I sit down to query, I’m just overcome with a sense of hopelessness and despair and the rejects that occasionally still filter in do not ameliorate the situation at all.

So, church today was about the Enemy or Devil and how he comes against us and we are in a constant struggle (usually invisible) against him.  This made me immediately think of my novel because I completely agreed that it’s the Devil at work on my will to get this published.  I do believe this book is a strong book for all people and will help them in their struggles and it does grapple with the question of God’s role in our lives.  Thus, I think the Devil may be upon me every time I try to work on it (be it querying, editing, writing, etc).

Step 1) is being aware of this battle and how it’s the Devil focusing on my weaknesses (which are aversion to criticism, my writing sucks, I will never get this published, etc).

Step 2) is depend on God’s strengths to overcome and not yours.  This is important, especially since writing is such a lonely craft.  I do feel alone sometimes in my struggles with this book.

Step 3) will be to use God’s protection to win the battle over him.

I am excited for this next series so I can learn some tools in order to put my mind where it needs to be to create and do God’s work–ultimately your life’s purpose.