Writing the book

It hadn’t occurred to me that I would or should write a book until early in 2015. I loved Jesus, and I loved mentoring and praying for women. The Lord gradually began revealing to me the importance of the heart, and my role in ministering to the hearts of women. As the Lord spoke to me in my quiet times, and as dreams and prophetic words began to come together into a unified picture, I realized that the Lord was asking me to write a book. A book for and about women’s hearts.

It has taken seven years to get from those first inklings to the finished work. A lot of life happened along the way, and there were long segments of time where circumstances left me void of time and/or health to write. And there were times when I just lacked the desire or the diligence to keep going. Many times I had to repent and get back on track. And each time I got back at the computer to continue, the Holy Spirit was faithful to sustain and inspire.

The easiest way to share a bit of this journey with you is to highlight journal entries from these seven years. Here’s a sampling:

6/18/2015

Prov 15:13 “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.”

Matt 12: 34-35 “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things.”

This is what God has done in me: He has healed my heart!! That is why there is treasure in my heart, which is why good things come forth. In signs, wonders, miracles, acts of kindness (from God to us, and from us to each other), the target is the heart. The target of ministry is the heart. The target of discipleship is the heart. Be used as a vessel of heart-healing! Use prayer, encouragement, truth, warfare, repentance, teaching, admonishment, healing, friendship, kindness . . . let God target hearts through you.

3/21/16

Something is stirring in me (again) to write. I have a book for women in me.

5/10/16

Felt an empowering, an anointing, a conviction, and an urging to write that book for women. It would feel like outright disobedience to not say a definite yes and begin a plan to get it done. I will step into this learning circle. God, why did You choose me?

Because you will write what I want.

Because you have lived what you will write.

Because I am sovereign and you are the one I choose.

10/25/16

The Lord had me take out the book and do some writing. It didn’t make sense to me because I knew I had very little time. I actually only wrote a couple of sentences on comfort. But then the revelation came to me that this book will be emotionally dangerous if it is not accompanied and covered with prayer. The Holy spirit must actually abide with every woman who reads it. And I must pray for those women.

I ask the Holy Spirit to attach Himself to this book. I pray that these words would break through strongholds. This season of not having time to write is NOT a season of not working on the book. Prayer is the most important work on the book.

11/28/18

Sensed the Lord speaking to me:

I want to restore the heart of womankind.

The cold, hopeless soil must be tilled with love and tenderness and truth.

A wind of the Holy Spirit blowing ahead of this book.

I want to fill the book with an impartation of faith.

I want to replace shame and condemnation with repentance and forgiveness.

A quiet humility

Wisdom

Strength

4/14/19

I’m sensing that the “running van” in my dream is the book, and I need to fight my way to the driver’s seat.

The heart of God for women: their identity, their position, their fulfillment. He wants the hearts of women fulfilled. He wants their destinies claimed. He wants an army that is NOT an all-female army or an all-male army. The groups are not segregated, but one in heart, one in mind, one in spirit – each piece perfectly placed in a jigsaw puzzle titled His Glory.

9/4/19

Write as an act of love & worship & adoration & devotion. Jesus wants this accomplished, and He has chosen me. This is a desire of His heart. The mandate to write a book can be seen as an invitation rather than a command. He can find someone else to do it if I want.

I know nothing of perseverance. Lord, teach me!

11/12/19

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Ps. 144:1

The book is warfare. It will be used to tear down strongholds, undo lies, break chains, set captives free.

5/3/20

The Lord is broadening my vision for the book. The goal is not just healed hearts; the goal is hearts that bring KINGDOM! Gifts restored, all members of the body working together in wholeness.

NOT JUST HEALED TO BE HEALED, BUT HEALED FOR A PURPOSE!

5/6/20

Feeling tired, dull and headachy the last few days. I don’t feel as productive as I could be. But I will persevere. One small thing at a time; write the next thing that will set a woman free!

7/31/20

A cry rose from within me about the book: Loose identity and purpose! That women’s hearts would come alive, knowing God’s love, rejoicing in their own lives, daring to have hope and confidence. That those who felt alone would no longer feel that way. That they would feel TREASURED.

11/8/21

The Lord has to keep calling me and refocusing me on writing the book. It is so easy to lose sight of the commission and its place in my life for this season. I keep doing other things, and the Lord is so faithful to forgive and re-center me. Forgive me, Lord, for devoting myself to trivial things.

Today the Lord gave me Luke 4:18-19 for the book: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

I prayed and declared these verses over the book.

From those first inklings to the final manuscript has taken over seven years. But I am blessed to have been able to partner with God in this process. And I pray that you will be blessed by the finished work. May the Holy Spirit anoint your reading and fill your heart with good news.