Guest Host-Author Deena Adams- It is Written

 

It is Written

by

Deena Adams

 

Do you ever struggle with temptation? 

If you're breathing, I'm going to guess your answer is yes.

Even Jesus was tempted. Take a moment to read Matthew 4:1-11 to see how He handled temptation, paying special attention to verses 4, 7 & 10.

Did you catch Jesus's strategy to defeat the enemy's attacks? Three simple but powerful words. 

It is written.

What a great example for us when we face temptation! This gives me hope I can prevail.

When the difficulties in our lives and the chaos in the world tempt us to believe God has turned His back on us, we can say: 

It is written in 1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

When we struggle to believe God accepts us in spite of our sins, we can say: 

It is written in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When hope is fleeting and we're tempted to succumb to the despair threatening to drown us, we can say:

It is written in Romans 8:31b-32: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

And when temptation seems too strong to resist, we can say:

It is written in 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

These are just a few of the many promises we can cling to when Satan attacks and tempts us to grasp worldly desires and give in to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

It's also an encouragement to me as a writer. 

Written words matter. 

I believe that not only does God's perfect Word matter, but so do those I put on paper for the world to read. 

Of course, my words pale in significance when compared to the Holy Bible. But when I allow God's Spirit to fill me and lead me as I write, even fiction, He infuses His power into my writing. 

Stories written in cooperation with God can make an eternal impact on those who read them.

This is why I write. To bolster others with God's hope and offer stories that help change lives. 

Join the conversation. What scriptures would you add to the list of "It is Written" promises? If you’re a writer, do you sense God's presence and power as you pen words for others to read? As a reader, has a fiction book ever drawn you closer to the Lord?

Do your burdens feel too heavy to bear? Check out this post for encouragement to lay them down.

 

Newsletter subscribers receive Deena’s novelette, Behind the Scenes, free as a thank you. You can also sign up for her weekly blog through this same form.

https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/v2g7z4

Linktree (Includes Deena’s website and all social media links):

https://linktr.ee/Deenaadams

Back Cover Copy of Deena's novel

When dreams disintegrate, is God really working behind the scenes for good?

Mississippi Delta missionaries Camille and Raymond Richards are heartbroken over the impoverished people they encounter daily. Having grown up poor in South Alabama, they understand that lifestyle, which compels them to serve families struggling with perpetual poverty.

At age seven, left to fend for himself, Clayton Jenkins longs to be part of a loving family. A family where his parents never leave him home alone. Where his Mama showers him with attention and his daddy plays with him.

From the moment she meets Clayton, Camille envisions the waif as their son. But that was ridiculous. The boy had parents. And she was pregnant. Did compassion for the child skew her perspective?

Or was God working behind the scenes, formulating a plan far greater than they could imagine?

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena understands how important hope is to daily life. That’s why she’s passionate about inspiring others through writing hope-filled fiction and highlighting other Christian authors on her blog. 

Deena is an active member of ACFW and two Virginia writer groups, board member of ACFW Virginia, founder of the Marathon online writer’s group, 2019 Foundations contest finalist, 2019 First Impressions contest double finalist and winner, and 2021 Genesis contest finalist and Crown Award winner.

She lives with her husband near the coast in beautiful Virginia. When she’s not writing, reading, or serving in her church, you’ll find her hanging out with family and friends and doting on her seven grandchildren.