February Fruits: Hope

Author's Character Series
February Fruits: Hope
Net's Notation Tuesdays

Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope.
Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.
(Zech. 9:12, NKJV)

Following last week’s topic of faith, today we’ll zero in on hope. They're very closely related.

I’m a prisoner of hope. Not only in my writing life, but in my personal life. There are promises I’m waiting on God to fulfill. And I can’t let them die. I can’t ignore them, deny them, stuff them under the rug. Instead, I wait on God, trying not to quench His Holy Spirit (see 1 Thess. 5:19). In this way, hope holds me prisoner.

Are there promises you’re waiting on God to fulfill in your life? Are you hoping in God for a breakthrough in a certain area?

Here’s how I think hope grows in us. We hope for a breakthrough in God. He grants it. We praise Him and risk hoping for something greater. Our faith is stretched in the meantime. Eventually we see that second “item” or “event” happen. But what if we have to wait?

Waiting is hope’s meadow.

It’s in the waiting that we find peace when we hope in God.

Waiting requires hope.

Hope is a fruit of the Spirit. God calls us to hope.

And because we can’t let go of whatever it is God’s promised us, or we’ve asked from Him, we become prisoners of hope.

But look at that first verse above: the prisoners of hope are promised a double restoration.

Hope is a choice and a fruit. You’ll find hope where it was forced through the soil by a season of waiting. You’ll find hope where a blessing long promised manifests.

In the mature author’s character, God will find hope.

Are there areas where you need to risk having hope? Don’t worry, hope will not disappoint.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13, NKJV)

February Fruits: Faith

AUTHOR’S CHARACTER SERIES
FEBRUARY FRUITS: FAITH

Net's Notes Tuesdays

But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness,
self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23, ModernKJV)

There aren’t many fruits to harvest this time of year in the Northwest. It’s not the right season. In fact, it’s rather dead here, so far. But spring is on the way.

How can I say that? Well, God is faithful, and He promised seasons would consistently change so long as the earth endures.

And I believe God. I have faith.

This year on Net’s Notations Tuesdays, we’ve been discussing the fact that Jesus it the ultimate Author and He is working on our characters as His authors. This month—February—we’re going to consider the fruits of the Spirit and how they are part of our character. They impact our lives, bless God (if we’re fruitful), minister to other people, and influence our writing.

This week’s fruit: Faith.

Believers can’t get very far without faith. You can’t even believe in God without faith, right? But thank God, as soon as we reach out to Him, He grants us faith to believe. As you mature, you believe Him for more aspects of your walk with Him.

What are you believing God for? As God draws us nearer to Him, I believe, He plants His dreams in our hearts. We begin to long for the things of God. His dreams become our dreams.

But to see those dreams come true, especially in the face of trials or rejection or naysayers, we have to have faith.

So, on this journey of writing, of reaching others with your inspired words, embrace faith. As you wait on God, let God reassure you. He doesn’t mind bringing confirmation. He’s the Author and Finisher of our faith. He grants us faith, stretches our faith, tests our faith and rewards our faith. He looks for faith in us authors because He’s working on His authors’ characters.

Annette

How Will You Be Known?

Thursdays - Devotions for Writers

“Therefore, by their fruit you will know them.” (Matt. 7:20 NKJV)

As writers we can get caught up in branding.

You know . . . that thing that makes us stand out from other writers. That tag line that speaks to what we write, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction.

“Don’t forget to breathe . . .” lets you know when you open a Brandilyn Collin’s novel, you’ll find a story full of suspense.

Kim Sawyer uses “gentle stories of hope” for her historical romances.

You expect humor with Kathleen E. Kovach’s tag, “Spiritual Truth…With A Giggle.”

Some authors are so well known for their genre, they don’t need a tag line. Their name alone represents their brand.

Dr. James Dobson. Everyone knows what he stands for and what to expect from any publication written by him.

No one choosing a Stephen King novel would anticipate reading something lighthearted.

I hope to have a brand and a cool tag line some day.

But when I get caught up in my writing and desire to be published, I put this before me . . .

Even if I’m bearing fruit on the page and writing 3,000 words a day (I wish!) – how am I known to those around me?

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” (Galations 5:22-23 NIV)

More than my desire to be known for what I write, I want to be known for bearing fruits of the Spirit.

And you?

How will you be known?

Dawn