Blogger: Rachel Kent
Here are some verses that are wonderful for everyone, but I believe they can be especially helpful for writers. I put a little line about when I think they could be helpful, but they could apply to other circumstances as well. I hope something here touches you today.
1) A verse for when you face discouragement or rejection: Colossians 3:23-24 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. (NLT)”
2) A verse for your book release day or for before author talks or book signings: Deuteronomy 31:6 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (NLT)”
3) A verse for when a deadline is approaching and you feel overwhelmed: Philippians 4:6- 7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)”
4) A verse for when you are wondering why you write: Matthew 28:18-20 “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ (NLT)”
5) A verse for when you feel overwhelmed, fearful, or alone: Psalm 46: 1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (NLT)”
6) When you need to refocus: 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (NLT)”
7) When you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere with your writing: Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (NLT)”
8 ) When you are questioning your value as a writer or when you are facing financial struggles: Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (NLT)”
9) When you are tired or weary: Isaiah 40: 30-31 “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)”
10) When waiting gets tough: Lamentations 3:24-25 “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; (NIV)”
Did one of these verses speak to you today? Which one?
Is there a verse that’s not listed here that has been especially helpful to you in your writing journey?
Tweetables:
10 Bible verses for writers selected by literary agent @rachellkent. Click to tweet.
Bible verses for when you need encouragement in your writing career via @rachellkent. Click to tweet.
Have a Bible verse that’s encouraged you in your writing? Share it here with @rachellkent. Click to tweet.
Oh that’s good Rachel. So perfect for right now. I’m gonna print these out and put them on my wall. Thank you!
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God .. (NLT)”
These are great. Thanks for the encouragement today!
For me, each verse applies at some point on the journey. It is so easy to give up, walk away, and wallow in the “I’m not good enough” mud. Here’s one that pulls me out of the self-doubt muck: Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
My kids and I use this Bible verse often, Kathryn. It’s a great one. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this, Rachel. Very needed today!
Blessings!
Terrific list! Your number one has gotten me through many tough times over the years. It’s so easy to forget I’m not living my life for human approval! Thank you. 🙂
Rachel, these are all great verses. I’ve gone to Phil 4:6-7 more times than I can count. And Psalm 37:4 was one I clung to in my single years when I waited for God to bring me my wonderful husband. I think that verse is the one that spoke to me most today. I need to remember to continue to delight in the Lord, focusing on Him first in each and every day. Delighting in Him rather than what I want Him to give me. 🙂
Another verse I would add to this is Psalm 61:2–“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Rachel, Excellent choices. Then, again, there’s a verse that runs through my head from time to time as I plod along this road to writing:
Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”
Nice choice, Richard. 🙂
I love that verse too, Richard.
Awesome, Rachel. Thank you.
I am so glad you put #4 on this list (the Great Commission). I don’t think any of the rest would matter much without it (for Christian writers). Everything we right should in ways big and small advance the cause of the gospel, in my humble opinion.
Love it!
These are wonderful verses, Rachel. Philippians 4:6-7 and Psalm 46:1-3 are ones I refer to often. I’m also fond of Matthew 6:26 for many areas of my life. I can forgot God is in control at times, and I needn’t worry over things.
Here’s another helpful one: Proverbs 14:23,
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” We can’t reap rewards if all we do is talk about our writing.
I love these, and I love this post. Thank you! I just came across this one in my devotions the other night:
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8
Such beautiful truth. I need only to work hard and work as unto Him, and He will accomplish what He desires with it– including the work in my own heart that needs to be done sometimes. He doesn’t leave me, “the work of His hands,” alone on this journey.
What a nice, helpful post today, Rachel! Been a little frazzled lately, possibly moving across the country for a different career, and this post today has really helped me, thank you!
Though I’m surprised you didn’t go for the King James version, with its lovely language. Even my non-believer pals admire the quality of its prose and poetry.
I like the KJV as well, Larry.
Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
Love these, Rachel! Last year at ACFW, I was worrying so much about my pitches. I went into the prayer room there and pulled out my phone, flipped to the Bible verse app for any sort of inspiration, and THIS was the verse of the day:
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
-Philippians 1:6
So grateful to know HE’s going to take the reins and finish what He started in me.
These are all wonderful! I’m printing this post out and putting it on my bulletin board. Number 1 has always been a verse I revisit often, whether in writing, being a mom, wife, employee, or ministering at my church. Great encouragement to kick off the weekend, Rachel. Thank you.
Nice way to start the weekend…encouraged and lifted up…be blessed!
Use them well to serve others. What a calling 🙂
Oooo, I’m going to print these out and stick them on the wall as a constant reminder. Maybe something pretty in a frame? I particularly need number ten right now: “I will wait for him.” Thank you, Rachel!
I love this list ~ thank you! “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
#9 Is my life verse.
These were lovely, thank you.
Awww..Jennifer Major….#9 is our Life verse too!! My Sweet Husband and I have been comforted by these words over and over in our forty-five years together!!
Have a beautiful weekend!!
Nehemiah 4:9. So we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night
Don’t limit yourself to just pray or just working under your own power.
Both prayer and your best effort are required in all things.
When we worry about changes in our publishing industry:
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Paths in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Yes!
Love Isaiah 43
He is making the way ahead and I am to follow behind in trust.
Yes! They all spoke to me. And may I add … when you don’t know where to start on a manuscript: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the rest shall follow.”
Thanks for these!
Thank you for this, Rachel! I needed number three today, but I know I have needed and will need the others. What a great post!
Thank you, Rachel. This is one of your best blogs ever. I printed this out to put on my office wall and will email it to my critique groups.
Thank you, Rachel. These verses are a gift from God. Because of a situationcurrently going on in my life, I was feeling rather discouraged today. Through these verses, God gave me hope and courage. Many blessings to you for putting them on the post.
Thanks for these. Definitely experiencing the last one – the Lord IS good to those who wait! While trying to get my manuscript published, I’ve gotten involved with a local magazine, and it’s been awesome. We just need to be aware of what He’s doing around us (and within us) right now :).
This is really good, Rachel–thank you. Number 1 and Number 4 ministered to me today. 🙂 Bless you!
Wonderful, Rachel! I’m going to print this list. What a nice change from all the business talk (though I love that, too). After a challenging week, it’s nice to be reminded of why we’re doing this!
Thanks, Rachel! This is very timely today! I especially need 3 and 5 today. :)Thankful for God’s promises and your faithfulness.
Wow, a power-packed post. Thank you, Rachel!
Love this! Thanks so much! Trying to finish a booklet on prayer strategies, so this is perfect. : )
Love this, Rachel. Thank you!!
Colossians 3:23 is the theme verse for my writing life. It is a great reminder that my writing is for His honor and glory.
Oooh, Rachel I absolutely LOVE this!!!
Thank you so very much! Many spoke to me today.
Ones I use often are:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
Wow. All of them. Thanks for the encouragement!
Thank you Rachel! These are wonderful verses!
Thank you, Rachel!
All of these verses speak to me because . . .
“God’s Word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
Have a GREAT weekend!
These are great! Thanks!
Rachel, these are awesome! I loved reading them in the New Living Translation, since I usually read the NIV. The Word is so fresh and relevant. These are perfect. I especially liked Philippians 4:6- 7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)”
That seems to be my theme for this year. 🙂
Not only are these verses comforting, I enjoy hearing from fellow Christian writers. Sometimes I feel like a dandelion in a rose garden. Thank you.
Rachel, thank you. These were much needed for me today. I will also print and put them by my desk.
My verse for the moment is…
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” – 1 Chronicles 28:20
Isaiah 40: 30-31. Thanks so much for this list, it’s one of those drowsy days where I need to be reminded. And what a beautiful reminder.
Thank you, Rachel.
What loving words of encouragement!
Many of these verses minister to me in my writing journey.
I was given this verse by the keynote speaker at the Mt. Hermon Conference my first year there in the early 1990’s. It continues to encourage me and remind me God’s plan for my life is in His hands.
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.
Luke 1:45
This is WONDERFUL! Thanks for sharing, Rachel. I think this should be a poster for writers to hang on their walls 🙂
Thanks, Rachel. Every one of these verses would be on my list of favorites. I like the way you tied the verses to specific needs of writers.
Like you, I’m a Californian. We get frequent warnings about the “big one,” so I especially appreciate Psalm 46:1-3.