#181: Are You Filled and Skilled as a Writer

Welcome to the Author Audience show, the podcast that helps you reach more people with your message, create a book, connect with your audience, change lives. Here's your host, Shelly Hitz. Hi, this is Shelly Hitz and I'm so excited that you're here with me on this video. I am trying this out for the first time going live from a scheduled post. So I'm just checking this out and seeing how it's working if I am indeed live. So I'm actually testing this out today. I do have a word of encouragement for you, but I'm testing this out today because tomorrow I am going live for a webinar called Write Removing the obstacles to your writing Life. And I just wanted to do everything I could to make sure the technology is working. In today's video, I want to ask you real quick, are you filled and skilled as a writer? So I recently heard this from one of my art mentors, Matt Tommy. He was talking about being filled and skilled as an artist. But then I have been reading through the Bible through a one year plan and I recently finished Exodus. I'm in the middle of Leviticus now and I came across the passages where it talks about this and I just thought it would be really encouraging to share some of with you as writers as well. And so in Exodus 31, it's talking about building a tabernacle. It's when the Israelites were still in the desert. And it says, then the Lord said to Moses, look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel. I think that's the way you say that. Son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I filled him with, with the Spirit of God. He was filled with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver and bronze. And then it says in verse 5, he is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. So here it talks about God had specifically chosen Bezalel. I always want to say that wrong specifically chosen Bezalel for the purpose of helping to build the tabernacle. Now God has a specific calling on your life as well. Can I get an amen in the comments? He has something very specific for you, a very specific assignment. So when we come to God, it's not just about bringing our agendas to God, but asking God for what his agenda is for us. His assignment is for us. And then walking in that assignment. And so he has a very specific assignment for you. Now it may not be creating things for a tabernacle, probably won't be. But I just think this is a great example that God has a specific calling on your life, a specific assignment. And many times there are seasons to. To that assignment. If you agree, just type seasons in the comments. Because there are seasons. Like, we may have assignments that are just for a specific season. When I wrote my book, Broken Crayons Still Color, that was a season, and it was a tough season. It was five months where I really felt depressed and just loaded down by a spiritual attack. It was one of the hardest books I've ever written. I actually put it off for a year. That book was recently featured in a subscription box company, and they sent me a link to someone who'd opened the box and shared some of the things. They'd already went through part of my book. And they were sharing how, like, they had tears. And God was bringing up things from their past they've never dealt with before and doing new things and healing just through my obedience of writing that book. Well, that was a season of writing the book. And it was an assignment. I really, truly believe it was from God. It was not my idea. The book title was not my. I mean, everything was just God. Have you ever had an experience like that? Now, sometimes, it may not be quite that obvious, but there are very specific assignments and very specific seasons that he has for each one of us. And then it says, I have filled him with the spirit of God. We want to be filled with the spirit of God when we're writing. I don't want to be writing on my own strength. I don't want it to be the words of Shelley going out in these books. And I'm not perfect. I'm sure that I have written books just out of sheer will and, you know, just pushing through. I do tend to struggle at times with workaholism, but God is really healing me of that and setting me free from that and reminding me that it is so important that we're filled with the spirit. And it says, I have filled him with the spirit, giving him great wisdom, ability and expertise in all kinds of crafts. Ask the Lord right now to fill you with his spirit so that you can have wisdom, ability and expertise in the writing that he has called you to do. There are people your books will reach that my books will never reach. Can I get an amen for that? There are people your books will reach that my books could never reach. There are people right now waiting for your book, waiting for the message you're going to share in your book right now. And it's not a thing of shame, like, oh, you're not doing it, you know. No, it's an excitement. It's an excitement. Like, have you ever been in a play or in some sort of band or choir and you're getting ready to do a performance and like, you might peek behind the curtain, like, I did that all the time I was in all sorts of plays and musicals growing up. Peek behind the curtain, you see a full room, standing room only. It's like, yes, it's so exciting. And it's so like, it gives you that burst of adrenaline and energy. And that's what I want you to think of it as. It's as if there's like this auditorium, this audience that's waiting for what you have to share in your book. And it's an exciting thing. But ask God to fill you with his spirit so that you can have that wisdom of knowing what to write, what not to write, what to edit, what to get rid of, what to keep, and all of that. And then it says in verse 5, he is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He's a master at every craft. And so what I want to say about this is it is important to continue improving our craft. It is good to continue learning. Like, I have an entire online academy. It's like a school for you in Author Audience Academy where you can continue learning and developing your craft as a writer, as a publisher, you know, publishing your books and in marketing. And so it's important to be skilled too. And when I shared my book writing formulas webinar, I share about how typically you want to think about choosing topics to write about that you have experience in and that you have passion in. And so think about those areas and where do you want to be skilled and where are some of those skills lacking? And where can you continue to grow as a writer, as a publisher? If you self publish books, you're a publisher. Yay. I just realized the other day I have 10 years, a decade of experience in publishing books. I published my very first book in 2008, and I'm like, oh yeah, it's 2018.

How exciting. God has skilled me in publishing. I've written and published over 40 books with our publishing company. I've managed and been in charge of over 50 books. So I have skills in this and I'm sharing those skills and those things with you in authority and academy. But where is it that you're skilled? And then are you operating out of your own strength or are you filled with the Spirit now? To close today, I just wanted to share then at the end of Exodus, So is Exodus 31 at the end of Exodus, this is Exodus, I think 40, let me see. Yeah, 40, Exodus 40. I was so encouraged all throughout. It kept saying, Moses proceeded to do everything just as the Lord had commanded him. God was very specific. If you're struggling with what to write in your book, if you're struggling with how to market your book, ask God. He wants to give you specifics. Like, I just recently asked him about some marketing things for Author Audience Academy. And I just, in listening prayer, being sensitive to the spirit, he just gave me this whole plan and tomorrow's webinar is part of it. And then I have a surprise to share with you at the end of tomorrow's webinar. So make sure to come live. It will be on my Facebook page, but that was also part of it. And then there will be another couple things. But anyways, God gave me a very specific plan. God gave Moses a very specific plan in the tabernacle, kept saying, just as the Lord commanded him. Just as the Lord commanded him. Just as the Lord commanded him. And then in Exodus 40, this is what I want you to hear. And this got me really excited when I was reading it the other day. It said in verse 33, at the end of verse 33, it said, so at last Moses finished the work.

I always talk about, I want to help you cross that finish line with your book. To finish writing it, to finish publishing it, to market it, to cross that finish line. It said, so at last Moses finished the work. Do you want to finish the work God has called you to in this season? The assignment God has given to you in this season? The book God has called you to write in this season? If so, just type yes in the comments below. Say, I'm in. I'm wanting to cross that finish line. I want to do what God has commanded and given me to do. It's a privilege. It's not a pressure, it's a privilege. And that's what I was feeling the other day, this pressure with all that God has given to me. If you're faithful and little, he will allow you to be ruler over much. It's the parable, the talents, being faithful in a little. And I started online marketing in 2004. Was that 14 years ago. And I've been faithful with a little that God's put into my hand. And he's given me more and more. And sometimes the Responsibility can feel almost just so heavy, like a pressure. And I was telling my husband this the other day, and then he was praying for me. My husband is such a big part of this, this ministry and this business because he is the foundation, he is the umbrella, he is the prayer support. And he was praying for me the other day, and he was praying that instead of feeling that pressure, I would see it as a privilege. I want to say the same thing to you today. If you're feeling any pressure that is not from the Lord, it's from the enemy, ask the Lord to change your mind and to see it as a privilege to be a voice for the Lord in this generation for such a time as this, this. And I'm gonna start crying because I know the Lord has good plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope. We just need to believe it and we need to walk forward in the assignment that God has given us to do, just as the Lord has shown us, just as he's commanded us, just as he's given us to do. Was it easy for me to write my book? Broken crayons to still color? Absolutely not. I want to say it's probably one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. When I got that testimony today, and she's on video and she's sharing, I mean, amazing things that God's already doing in her life, just through the introduction, I was blown away. And I'm like, if it was only for her, it was worth it.

Now there's thousands of other people that have purchased that book, that are reading that book. You know, I don't hear all the stories, you know, we often don't hear as authors. It's a lonely work. But I want to tell you it is worth it to walk in the assignment that God has given to you, being filled with the Holy Spirit. You don't want to do it on your own strength. The enemy will eat you alive. Do it filled with the spirit. Can I get an Amen? And ask the Lord how it is he wants to continue to skill you for what he has called you to do. He has called you for such a time as this. That's what Esther had said. I'm here and I'm in the palace for such a time as this. She was placed in that position, in that place for her assignment at that moment in time. What is it that God is calling you to do right now? What is your assignment? Where is it that he's calling you to be. And what is it he has called you to do? I want that more than anything. For you to see breakthrough. To see you overcome the obstacles so you can walk in freedom. Walk into the assignment God has given you and so that you will start getting testimonies like I received today. Like life changing breakthroughs in people's lives. You know that are happening because you finished the work again. Exodus 40 verse 33 it said so at last Moses finished the work. He crossed the finish line. I didn't expect to say all of that, but God had other plans for this broadcast today. I just feel so fired up for tomorrow. Please, please join us. It'll be on the same page my webinar right now and it's the word write W R I T E right now and I am going to be sharing the keynote message I recently shared at Writers on the Rock conference. It was very well received. I know that God wants to use it to help you move forward in this calling in this assignment he's given to you. So please share it. I would love for you to be there live as long as technology cooperates. There will be a replay right here on this page, but I'm excited for that. And then like I said, I have a special surprise to share with you at the end of that live video. Plus you'll get a bonus if you stay till the end my training one thing every Christian writer needs. So I hope you'll be there. If you're gonna be there and you're here live, just type I'll be there in the comments. I look forward to that tomorrow. Now let me just pray over you and then I'm going to let you go on with the rest of your day. My nose is running cause I started to get teary eyed but let me just pray for you. So God, I just pray right now for every writer, every author that's listening right now or that is watching the replay of this video. I pray for every author that's listening to this on my podcast or watching it on my YouTube channel or reading the transcript on my blog. I pray right now God that you would speak to them in their spirit. They would sense your Holy Spirit speaking to them on what their assignment is right now in this season. What is it that you have called them to do right now? Lord? I just pray that they would be open to receive everything you have for them Lord, that you would fill them with your holy Spirit in Jesus name. That you would just fill them. They would be filled with your spirit so that they would have wisdom to know what to write, what to do, how to market, how to move forward. Lord, I just pray for their skill. I pray that they would continue to be lifelong learners and that they would just grow in the knowledge in the field or the expertise that you have called them to. They would continue to learn and grow as a writer, as a publisher, as a marketer. Lord, I just pray that you would bless their lives. And I do ask, Lord, that just like Moses, they would be able to say, one day, I finished the work. I crossed the finish line. I did just as God showed me, just as he commanded me, just as he gave me, I finished the work. And not in our own strength, Lord, but by your spirit. Not in might, not in power, but by your spirit, says the Lord. And so, God, I just pray that you would help each person to move forward in the assignment you've given them, filled with the spirit, skilled in what you've called them to do, and with joy, Lord, that they would see it's a privilege. It is a privilege to be your mouthpiece. It is a privilege to be your voice in this generation for such a time as this. I pray your blessings over each author right now, Lord, and I pray that you would pour out from heaven exactly what they need right now. In Jesus name, amen.

All right, well, I will see you tomorrow live. If you're watching the replay, you can always find the replay of the webinar on my Facebook page. As long as the technology cooperates or email me and I will let you know where to find it. But again, my encouragement to you today is to be filled and to be skilled and then to cross that finish line so one day you, like Moses, can say, at last I finished the work. Amen. All right, we'll talk to you later. Bye bye. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Author Audience. I would like to invite you to attend one of my free trainings on three proven book writing formulas every nonfiction author needs to know. This is a fun and fast way to write a nonfiction book, but also a book that you're proud of. Plus, I will give you two free gifts just for attending. No credit card required. First, you'll get my 10 nonfiction book title templates and you'll also get my ebook titled Brilliant brainstorming. It's a 28 page ebook and both of these bonuses are yours at no charge. Just for joining us for the training, you can sign up for my free training by going to shellyhits.com formulas. This training and the two bonuses are free. And I would love to help you write your next nonfiction book.