by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong
At a writing retreat, I asked my writing group to pray over a certain project. I wanted clear direction about whether to pursue it or not.
On the last day of the retreat, while in the shower, I felt like God had an answer for me in scripture. I got out of the shower, randomly opened my Bible, and the first verse I read was Psalm 102:18.
Let it be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.
That was clearer than I expected. It felt surreal. Like, “That didn’t just happen.” I closed my Bible, pushed it away, and started sharking. I decided not to tell anyone about the verse in case they thought I was a nut.
Obviously, I’m okay with being considered a nut now. In fact, when a reader friend wanted to get a tattoo inspired by one of my books, I went with her and had Psalm 102:18 tattooed on the wrist of my writing hand.
The verse wasn’t only direction for my project, it’s direction for all projects. Because praise is powerful enough to change the world.
See, when we praise, we take our eyes off our problems. It requires looking past our personal storylines to the Author of Life. We have faith there’s more at stake than our own wants and desires. We trust God is working in ways we might never know. And we choose to bring Him honor and glory despite how we feel. Then, miraculously, we feel better.
I know this because I’ve learned it the hard way. Life is hard. Life is messy. I’m messy.
I don’t have all the answers, but I can point to The Answer. And whether you need inspiration for your writing or your personal life, the direction to praise Him is pretty clear.
In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?
Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.
When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.