Writing Disciplines by Tina Yeager

Writing Disciplines

by Tina Yeager

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ^‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed’”

(Hebrews 12:11-13, NIV).

The clock hands point at a late hour and accuse me of unproductivity. I blame social media distractions, a relentless tide of emails, and fatigue. Yet the Holy Spirit’s ray of truth pierces the fog of my self-deceit.

I must confess my willingness to participate in each writing roadblock. I enjoy the detour into online shopping. Answering emails assuages my people pleasing compulsion. And I sabotage my rest when I indulge in mindless television too long at night.

Excuses never pave the journey to fulfillment. But refuting the lies I tell myself may not save me from slacking. I can still default to bad habits even though I recognize the truth mentally and spiritually. I have a mind filled with principles and techniques for productivity. My soul receives regular nudges from the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, I sometimes ignore both knowledge and wisdom to defer to comfort.

Ease tempts me to succumb to my feelings. Faithfulness demands I press through discomfort. I must compel my will to fight the riptide of senses, emotion, and a more insidious enemy.

In the quest to serve the Lord with our words, we face physical and supernatural opposition. With physical habits like exercise, we merely fight our default settings. But Satan intensifies the struggle to prevent us from fulfilling our divine purpose. Our work’s potential impact motivates our enemy, but may also steel our resolve to resist temptation.

Message bearers need strategies to overcome inner and outer attacks. As with any divine calling, writing requires obedience to disciplines. Specific practices empower us to pursue the dream God planted within us.

Teachability, time commitment, follow-through, and accountability top our list of vital habits. Regular evaluation provides an opportunity to improve our lifestyle and its results. Other steps build around these foundational pillars. The Holy Spirit can guide our disciplines to optimize the structural details of our writing life.

My writing life awaits holy edits. I submit my will to the Lord’s plan of disciplines today instead of heeding my treacherous will and the enemy’s call.

Redeemer, thank you for conquering the enemy of my soul as well as my own frailty. Please continue to guide me to serve your purpose through the power of your Holy Spirit. I’m so grateful for your precious gifts of discipline and grace that enable me to share your message. Amen.

Award-winning author, speaker, and life coach, Tina hosts the Flourish-Meant podcast a YouTube channel, and the Flourish Today radio show. She serves as membership director for Christian Women in Media Association, on the marketing team for STRUCK the Series Streaming TV show, and as Director of Traditional Groups with Word Weavers International. To connect with her, visit tinayeager.com.