What Hindered You?

By Shirley E. Gould

As 2017 winds down and we approach 2018, we make resolutions, set goal and decide to make changes in our lives. But, many times those adjustments are short lived and we repeat our actions of the past and miss the mark—again.

Being Christian Fiction Writers, we must evaluate our progress and take seriously the monumental task of getting our spiritual message into our manuscripts. Maybe we should look at the things that have hindered us this year before we set new resolutions.

There is a scripture that asks a vital question—

You ran the race so well, what did hinder you? Galatians 5:7

Another scripture encourages us as we start this new year—

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

As Christians, we constantly deal with the voice of the enemy reminding us of our failures, our mistakes, lack of talent and lack of confidence. We all have a past and have difficulties we deal with every day. Grief, sickness, wounds, abuse and bitterness in our personal lives can seep into our writing keeping us drained as it steals our creativity. The enemy wants us to be weighted down with issues because the message in our manuscripts is vital as it speaks to those struggling in their own lives.

In order to move past these hindrances, we must lay them down at the Lord’s feet in prayer and leave them there. The Lord wants you to be free.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37

It may seem too simple—but Him in that verse reminds us that we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He was the fourth man in the fiery furnace. He calmed the raging sea, turned water into wine and closed the lion’s mouth. He raised Lazarus from the dead, cleansed the lepers and fed the multitude. He was bruised and brought healing, He was pierced and eased pain. He was persecuted and brought freedom. He was dead and brought life. He is risen and brings power. He reigns and brings peace.

He will set you free today. You’re running the race well. What is hindering you? Before you make your resolutions for 2018, lay down the issues of the past that drag you down so you can experience the joy of the Lord sparking life and freedom into your writing as the new year dawns.

Let’s defeat the enemy at his game—be set free—then, use those experiences in our prose and in turn—help your readers draw close to the Lord through the message you’ve shared. After all, isn’t that why we write?

Shirley E. Gould is an inspirational speaker, an African missionary and a freelance journalist. She’s founder of Kenya’s Kids Home for Street Children in Kenya, East Africa. Shirley has written articles and newsletters for twenty years and is presently writing Christian Fiction novels. She lives in the Nashville, Tennessee area.