Everything we invest ourselves in must have a why behind it, otherwise what’s the point? We invest ourselves in a job that should provide some income…hopefully enough to pay most of the bills these days, right? Those bills are attached to something we either needed or wanted, a service or a product. Those services and products are easily categorized into wants or needs. Do we need food? Absolutely. Do we need the latest streaming subscription? Not really. Do we need electricity? Believe it or not, we could live without it, but we have become reliant upon such conveniences, so we call it a need.
After it is all said and done, most modern conveniences are entirely unnecessary, and in reality, are the primary reason we have to go to a job and pursue income. In God’s design, we would all stay home and tend our gardens with our families…but welcome to the reality of a fallen world. Thanks, Adam and Eve!
We are meant to live purposeful lives, whether it’s in the workplace or our homes. All the money in the world would mean nothing if we live empty lives. There’s a laundry list of celebrities, entertainers, and athletes who are walking proof of how riches can’t bring fulfillment. Matthew 16:26 says, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?”
So now we get around to the “why” for this post. Why have I written these books? Why am going through all the trouble to publish them? Why have I invested countless hours developing and writing these characters and stories over the past three years? It’s not for the fame. I don’t have the personality for it. It’s not for the money. Most authors barely break even if they make any money at all in such an oversaturated market. Why work so hard to put these books out there for everyone to see, opening myself up for criticism or acclaim?
Because I believe in the power of inspiration through stories. Most of the teachings we repeat from Jesus were stories He told with messages hidden within. He knew the power of a compelling story, and how describing captivating situations could stir our imaginations and draw us deeper to His truths.
This all started when I heard in my spirit two scriptures: Pslam 149:6 “Let the high praises of our King be upon our lips and a sword in our hands.” and Ephesians 6:12 “We wrestle not against flesh and blood.” I looked at the world around us, and then I looked at what has become the increasingly powerless modern-day Christian, committed to clocking in at their jobs, committed to showing up for a church service or two every week, committed to being a “good” person, committed to putting on a kind facade while they were helpless to stop the world from burning around them, and could do nothing for the brokenness inside themselves, much less the agonizing heartbreak in the people crying out for the slightest aspect of hope they could cling to while trying not to drown under the relentless waves of confusion and pain.
What good does it do this world for us all to live good Christian lives while doing nothing for the hopeless souls around us? There is far more to this life than punching a golden ticket to Heaven with a simple sinner’s prayer. Getting there isn’t good enough for me if I had to trample other people along the way, or ignore their pain while maintaining my salvation. This walk of faith is meant to be dirty. It’s meant to be hard. It’s meant to challenge us to our core, else what would be the point of a reward?
These books are meant to inspire us all into action, to search our own hearts to find the warrior within. I hope you will find that your worship becomes a sword of the spirit in your hand, just like in the books, so you can start slaying the darkness surrounding you with the proper weapons. I hope you find the power of accurate prayers as you become archers in the spirit, targeting the enemy with accurate, powerful scriptures. You may not see God’s name on the pages of the books, but you will hear His voice weaved into every word.
Why did I write these books, and why am I still writing more? Because I believe there is a warrior inside of you desperate to be released, and there is a world around you crying out for you to step into your purpose. I hope these stories make you want to jump and shout for the characters, but then I want you to realize the names are interchangeable with your own. See yourself in the stories, hit your knees in prayer, pick up your sword, and raise a shout of worship to our King!
One Response
Glad I read the “why” first. Very inspiring. I actually have time to read these days, though fantasy is not my genre, I like to support my cousin’s son’s work in the Lord!