#106 - How do writers discern when to act and when to wait?

As a writer, how do you discern when to act and when to wait on God? Hi, my name is Shelley Hitz and I help writers get their books out of their head and onto paper using my book writing formulas and monthly virtual writing retreats so that you can write words that outlive you, self publish books that fulfill your calling and reach more readers with your message. In each of my Ask Shelley episodes, I promise to share at least one thing that will help you write, self publish or market your books so that the message of your book can impact lives. So the question I received is how to discern when to act and when to wait on God. This is actually a really great question just for life in general and not just for our writing. But I think, you know, when we are a creative, a writer, we're creating things and you know, we're moving forward with different book ideas or marketing ideas or when we have a business. And many times when you're a writer, you do have a business, whether you want to or not. But you know, there's wisdom in knowing when to press through and when to rest. And this is something I've had to learn over time and, and I've learned this the difficult way. I've many times just pushed myself to a limit and I'm the type of person that I tend to push, push, push, push. Now you may be a person that tends to more rest and get stuck or paralyzed, analysis of paralysis or self sabotage, but I'm more of like that side of let's just go the workaholic. I always say I'm a redeemed workaholic, but God has really helped me to develop over time that discernment that comes from His Holy Spirit. When we are followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living within us and we can have discernment for these kind of questions. So I have a few things I wanted to mention and the first is I really encourage you to have regular business meetings with God at least once a week and we talk about this often. And you can go to our website if you don't yet have the free training and just go to trainingauthors.com businessmeeting now we have a more comprehensive training on this in Christian Book Academy in the Kingdom Foundations module. But you can get started with the free training@trainingauthors.com businessmeeting I recommend doing it at least once a week and you're really spending time with listening to God. And you know, many times for me it's journaling. It might Be going on a walk, but, you know, really spending time asking the Lord these questions of like, okay, I have this idea or I have this project, what do you think? Or what, which one should I start on first? Or what tasks should I prioritize today? All sorts of things that you can take to the Lord in business meetings with God. So that's the first thing. And then number two, plan in pencil. You know, it's. It's good to plan. I'm a planner and I like having my plan and my calendars and all the things. And there's nothing wrong with planning. But what God has shown me over the years is, Shelly, I want you to have an open hand on those plans. So instead of gripping and saying, okay, I'm going to get this book written no matter what, having that open hand, planning and pencil. And if God's decides to take out an eraser and say, we're going to do something different right now, that I'm not like thrown off guard. I used to be where I would have my plan and it was my way or the highway. And I wasn't as surrendered to God's plan and his will. And so now I'm able to pivot. I'm able to hear that still small voice most of the time. I mean, sometimes my flesh still gets in the way, just like all of us, right? But then when God says, no, daughter, let's go this way, I'm like, okay, I'm going to trust you. I'm going to trust you in this. But, you know, you take action, but you're willing to allow God to redirect you. So I think that's a really important part of like knowing, like you said, when to act and when to wait on God. If we just wait forever and ever, we could get stuck. Stuck and never press, publish on our book, never try to market our book. All the things. And yet my friend Shay Bynes from Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur says God can't direct a parked car. And I love this because I don't think the fear should be necessarily of running ahead of God. You know, if you're listening to him, if you're meeting with him on a regular basis, if you take action on something and like I said, you're planning in pencil. And he says, no, nope, let's pivot here. Let's go this other direction. You can always change, but if you stay stuck, you stay stuck. And so sometimes you just gotta get going, right? And so you have to know yourself. But I always feel like if you just start going in a direction. And then keep asking the Lord, like, okay, show me which way to go. He is going to show you his sheep. Hear his voice. And then number three. So number one was business meetings with God. Number two is plan and pencil. Be willing for God to change your plans. And then number three, keep seeking God. I know this sounds so simple. It's not always easy to actually live out, right? It's easier to scroll on social media and listen to what everyone else is saying. It's easier to maybe even listen to this and listen to me and what I have to say. But, you know, seeking God in His Word and whatever that looks like for you, it's different for me in different seasons. This year, CJ and I are reading through the Bible again together and we're using a chronological plan, but we just need to continue to soak in God's Word and to be able to meditate on it day and night. So we'll be like what Psalm 1 says, a tree planted by streams of water, that, you know, it's. Its leaves are green in every season, they never wither. And so keep seeking God in His Word. Keep seeking God through prayer. And you know, we have a training called how about how to Hear God's Voice. And really recommend that. If you're struggling with this or if this is something that is new for you, check out our Kingdom Writers Conference Prayer Edition so you can sign up for free@dommywritersconference.com prayer and Mark Verkler, who I learned this from, he's actually one of our speakers. He said yes to speaking at the event, so I was so excited. But then we have an entire training on this in Christian Book Academy in the Kingdom Foundations module. It's actually materials that I purchased from Mark Verkler to teach. And so it's great content and it's really helped a lot of our members. But.

If you're a Christian Book Academy member, you also have access to the conference replays in the Conference Replays module for the Prayer edition. But when you're trying to discern when to act and when to wait, have your business meetings with God. And I recommend at least weekly where you're really intentionally seeking God for the things about your writing, publishing and marketing. Number two, playing in pencil. So you take action, but you're willing to allow God to redirect you. That's what it's ultimately about, is allowing him to lead and guide you. And then number three, keep seeking God through His word and through prayer so that you can hear his voice. Not only through his Word, that's the main way, right? But through the Holy Spirit who speaks to us. So let me pray for you, Lord. I just pray for every Kingdom writer right now that really trying to discern, you know, whether to act or whether to wait on you. And I just pray that you would lift any pressure that they're feeling right now in Jesus name, that there would be no pressure, but they would just know that this is a privilege to be able to write, to be able to use their gifts, to be able to impact lives. And so we just thank you Lord, for what you're going to do in the breakthroughs in hearts that people that are stuck or those that just keep running ahead and they're planning in pen instead of pencil. But Lord, I thank you that you are always with us and you're continuing to grow us as kingdom writers. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Friends, I hope this has helped you. And if you are not yet a member, we would love to have you join us in ChristianBookAcademy.com and be your mentor and really help you navigate the complexities of writing, self publishing and marketing your book so that you have a clear and concise roadmap to move forward. All right, I will talk to you next time. Bye bye.