Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Battling a Spiritual Enemy When We Write


by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28


He doesn’t like it when we sit down to write. Our spiritual enemy’s mission to hurt God’s children and keep hearts blinded to the truth, is thwarted when we write for God. We may grow weary with writing and rewriting, but what we’re really doing is preparing for battle. 

Satan delights to hinder God’s work. I’ve experienced his tactics. Have you? Even as my family worked to release a magazine on spiritual warfare, we went through our own version of it. Satan will try to hinder God’s people from sharing the truth. Although we have a skilled enemy, our Lord Jesus Christ is a more powerful commander, and He has called us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV). Are you faithfully serving at your post? Are you allowing any part of your writing or enthusiasm to diminish because of spiritual warfare? 

In His Word, God has given us an example of how to resist Satan’s tactics and discouraging whispers. Nehemiah had set his heart to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, but certain enemies in the area taunted him and the workers. Nehemiah’s response can be our response when Satan and his forces try to hinder God’s work. 

The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; 
therefore we His servants will arise and build, 
but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 2:20 NKJV

Do you see the confidence in his words? Not in himself, but in God. Nehemiah identified Who they were serving—the God of heaven Himself—and who they were—His servants. So the enemies of the Jews had no right to hinder what they were doing for God. The principles works for us too.

When our spiritual enemy tries to hinder our work for God, we can answer in a similar way. God Himself will help us, and we are His servants. Satan has no rightful place in our lives to make us afraid and no authority to influence who we are or what we do. So don’t let him win.

When you sit down to write, don’t let the enemy have any place in your mind, heart, or life—in how you think, in your desires and what drives you, or in any part of your relationships, work, ministry, and dreams. Satan can never indwell a believer, but he will do what he can to hurt us and God’s plan for our lives and for others’ lives. Keep your heart close to God, and stay under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:4). Remember why you’re writing, and keep fighting the good fight. The story isn’t finished yet. There’s more work for you to do. 

TWEETABLES


Katy Kauffman finds herself writing about life’s spiritual battles more than anything else. She is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations. Her compilation, Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character, was a 2019 Selah Awards finalist and Director’s Choice finalist. Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, the Arise Dailyblog, PursueMagazine.net, and two blogs on writing. She loves spending time with family and friends, making jewelry, and hunting for the best donuts. Connect with her at her blog, The Scrapbooked Bible Study, and on Facebookand Twitter.

12 comments:

  1. Every day Ms. Katy. He will come beside us whenever we are brave enough to reach out to Him. When we do, we find He's been right there with us all along. Amen my young friend. God's blessings...

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  2. Great encouragement, Katy! I needed this reminder today! Thank you for sharing, Edie!

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  3. Amen. God helps us. Ask for His help with writing. Share conversation with Him. :-)

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    1. Yes! He wants to be involved in our service to Him. I'm so glad He helps us!

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  4. Katy, you included wise reminders and practical ways to prevent enemy tactics from working against us. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you, Jeannie! I know this week I needed the passage in Nehemiah. God bless your writing!

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  5. Katy, your post is very insightful and encouraging. Thank you.

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