Reaction to being published

[discipleofWORD]

Maybe someone might wonder this question:

How does a writer for Christ* respond that one of his works is published?

I know writers like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling would usually think "WOW! I can't believe what I wrote is published!" They could think about the success they have done with their own hands.

What goes for us writers for Christ? It is very obviously that when we publish something that glorifies God, we shouldn't look at our hands and say "my hands are pretty and boy, they sure wrote something good!" I completely understand that what we wrote is not by our strength. But...

What do we, writers for Christ, do when our writing is published? What is the "proper way" to react?

Recently, i got an article published at www.writetoinspire.com (awesome place filled with articles that will fuel a writer for Christ). I was reading this e-newsletter from this site and I wasn't expecting anything(my article was only 389 words and the guideline is 500-700 words...i don't think it made it through). In the newsletter, it congraulates the two articles that were published; one of those articles was mine.

My reaction?

I was stunned and said "Woooooo!!!" in a cheer. Ever since I dedicated my writings to Christ, this was one of the first that was published. Yet, i knew my hands didn't do all the work. I was tempted to think that I did this by myself(and shall receive the glory), but that's not what writers for Christ should ponder about. I got off the chair and kneeled, thanking the Lord AND asking Him to help me know it is for HIS GLORY and not mine.

There's a pretty good reason why writers should be humble before the Lord. If writers write something that is written to glorify them, how then can the Lord be glorified?

I always wonder how published writers such as Max Lucado and C.S. Lewis reacted when their writings were published.

*In my opinion, i don't like using the ambiguous term "Christian writer." It sounds a little awkward since it's possible for a Christian to write something secular. Writer for Christ is more clear since that writer is writing for Christ.

 

[katelyn]

I think it's perfectly okay to clap, cheer, and all that stuff. Celebrate!!

But, you are right. You know what? I think that Satan loves to pick on us when we're at our best. I mean, here you are, just got something published that can glorify God, and what does Satan try to tell you?

That you did it yourself...that you don't need God's help to be a good writer...etc., etc.

Of course Satan is going to try to get us to think that. He doesn't want us publishing stuff that glorifies God! No way!!

I think when those thoughts come to tempt us, that we just have to set them aside and remember that no matter what, we WANT to glorify God with the gift of writing we've been blessed with.

Basically...I think God wants us to enjoy the passions he's given us, but doesn't want us to leave him behind in the process.

 

[katelyn]

p.s. I read your article...good job!!