The Writer’s Journey: Is It Warfare?

Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and reflected on your writing as a holy call! This week, we’ll address the conflict that often arises when we begin to pursue that God-given call.

You see, once we begin writing, we often face obstacles. Determining whether those obstacles are enemy opposition or divine redirection is key. To do that, we must learn to discern the difference between warfare and God’s sovereign timing so we can navigate our writing journey with confidence!

But before we dive in, let’s look at some others whose ability to recognize and engage in warfare was pivotal to their journey…

Warfare in History

Joan of Arc recognized warfare for what it was. As the English threatened France, Joan knew more than military might was at stake. France’s spiritual identity was on the line. God’s call and Joan’s ability to see the spiritual nature of events enabled Joan to stand strong even to the point of execution. 

Though her journey ended in death, her impact did not. Joan’s life galvanized France to stand strong in faith and in battle and ultimately overthrow tyranny.

Warfare in the Bible

Nehemiah also had a keen eye for warfare. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the broken city wall, he met with instant opposition. Enemies tried to intimidate and attack from without and deceive and subvert from within. Nehemiah love of God and understanding of His words and principles equipped him to spot the enemy’s scare tactics in a heartbeat. 

You see, Nehemiah knew his work was God-ordained. As such, he quickly recognized that calls to abandon that work or to hide in the temple (which could only be entered by priests) were  meant to discredit him and his efforts.

Because of Nehemiah’s vigilance, he and the workers remained focused. And his witness untainted. Through his leadership, the people rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall in a miraculous 52 days. 

Warfare in Life

I experienced warfare in a youth group where several girls were engaging in questionable activities. They often invited me to join, but I would smile and decline. I didn’t realize at the time that my non-participation caused them to hate me. What I did discover was rumors of me they’d spread through the church! 

For years, I had no idea how I’d made them so mad. I simply assumed I wasn’t a good friend and avoided community. Later, as God  healed my heart, I discovered I have a God-given gift for connection. Especially with people from wildly different backgrounds and lifestyles. 

You see, the enemy often attack us directly in the area of our calling. When we recognize those God-given gifts, we can see how he’s worked to undermine them. Sometimes from an early age. Because here’s the deal…

Warfare in Your Life

We were born into a spiritual war zone, and our gifts are intended to powerfully advance God’s Kingdom in hearts that may not encounter Him in other ways. That’s why it’s so important to learn to discern God redirection versus the enemy’s attempts to crush our identity and purpose. But here’s the lovely part…

As we recognize our gifts and the warfare against them, we can begin to flip the enemy’s attacks on their head. When he enemy attacks, we can begin to pause and say, “What is he after?” And then strategically lean into God’s person, power, and promises to overcome. Let me show you…

• • He [Israel’s enemy] shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.  – Daniel 11:32
  • For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine
    power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty
    opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought
    captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when
    your obedience is complete. – 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
  • And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word
    of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. – Revelation 12:11
  • Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  – Ephesians 6:10-14

You see, writer, when we were saved, we weren’t just reserved for eternal life. We were equipped to walk in victory here on earth. Now that doesn’t mean we won’t battle. Quite the opposite! But it does mean God knew the fights we would face and has uniquely fitted us to overcome in Christ. But here’s the deal…

We cannot win that victory apart from Him. This is actually good news! Here’s why. As we recognize warfare for what it is, we learn to lean into Him and all He’s provided in Christ to overcome. And our walk becomes richer and deeper. And that richness and depth begins to saturate everything we do.

Where to Start with Warfare

So are you ready to identify and resist the warfare in your life? Here are some things to keep in mind…

1. 1. Know Your Design. We are each created by God with a unique design to accomplish certain works. Recognizing that design will help us recognize where the enemy is attacking. One way to see our design is to look at our personal passions and strengths. Especially those we had as children. Conversely, you can also sometimes examine attacks to see what the adversary was trying to stamp out. Often that thing is closely linked with God’s call for us. 
   2. Know His Purpose. If you’ve never asked God about His purpose for your life, I encourage you to do so! If you have, prayerfully revisit that call. Develop a habit of praying over God’s plans for you and journaling the thoughts and ideas He gives in prayer. This can be a powerful way to receive ongoing encouragement and direction for your life. Especially when facing opposition.
   3. Ask Him for Help. As you face life’s inevitable obstacles, remain in a place of seeking and asking. It can be easy to assume we’ve made a mistake when we face obstacles, or to assume we know what needs to be done. However as we seek, God will indeed provide wisdom and sometimes surprising insight into what we’re facing and equip us to overcome with Him. 
   4. Engage in His Body. One of the best layers of protection God provides is the body of Christ. Regular fellowship with other believer strengthen us, and walking in close relationship with those God’s given us for this season can be an unexpected well of encouragement and wisdom. If you don’t know already, ask God who you are to walk with in this season. Then see if they would be willing to receive regular updates from you and cover you in prayer. (And you them!) Because here’s the thing…

Learning to correctly recognize and resist the warfare cannot be done alone. Joan did not win any battle single-handedly. In fact, it was only when abandoned that her enemies overcame her. Likewise, Nehemiah had his people work in groups and families to withstand enemy attack. Similarly, God healed my heart of past hurts and revealed my purpose only as I began to obediently re-engage in His body.

And that’s how it often is. When we face warfare, it’s tempting to think it’s us against the world. But that was never how God intended us to fight our battles. He designed us to face every conflict in utter dependence on Him and interdependence on our brothers and sisters in Christ.

So I encourage you today, writer, if life has obstructed your writing journey, ask God for wisdom about what you’re facing. Ask one or two others to begin to lift you up in prayer, too. As we engage in this process of seeking and submission, God will be able to speak His life and light into those places of conflict and show us when, where, and how to stand. And as we engage with His strength, His glory will shine through all we do.

#stand #strength #faith #wisdom #EveryWriterWriting