Top New Year Mistakes Christian Writer's Make

Have you ever wondered why the promise of a “new year” sends people into a frenzy of making promises or vows? I have and as a result, Father is yet teaching me not to allow the emotion, excitement or promise of a new year mess up today – this exact moment for change that is standing before me NOW. The promise of a new year is completely and exclusively in the hands of Father for the true believer.

This promise does not guarantee anything, except that He will be with us – moving, guiding, directing and pushing us forward every step of the way. It also doesn’t remove those things in one’s life that hindered last year’s progress. Until Father’s given full authority to move on our behalf in every way — including identifying, confessing, repenting and breaking into pieces those hindrances – all those blocks that prevents the author from truly walking in the newness or “promise” of a new season will still be there.

Prophetic writers (and this article is only for you), we cannot afford to take the carnal, fleshly approach to anything. A work released from the apostolic Kingdom of Heaven into the earth must be guided in the earth by the prophetic demonstration of the word through Father to fulfill its assignment. Everything you do in connection with that assignment is critical.

Matthew 6:31-34 CJB says, “So don’t be anxious, asking, `What will we eat?,’ `What will we drink?’ or `How will we be clothed?’ For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris (trouble) already!”

There are several new year mistakes that Christian prophetic author’s make.

It’s as if they are in this cycle of ever working; but never completing or finishing OR finishing without focus or direction. As you press forward in your desire for a new season, be sure that you’ve swept out the old. Be sure that your steps are being order of the Lord. Until that happens, there will never truly be progress in your scribal ministry… and this promise of a new year will never truly be AUTHENTIC.

Some of the top mistakes prophetic Christian writers make at the beginning of the new year are:

Making vows. Heaven does not take the making of a vow of any kind lightly. In many ways, you are placing false expectations on yourself and making commitments to the Lord based on emotion and guilt. When you don’t follow through, you become a liar before men and before the Lord. You are being protected from being a LIAR when you refuse to make vows (or oaths). How awesome is the wisdom of God. In addition, discouragement could set in, along with condemnation and disappointment. Father KNOWS the time and season of EVERY prophetic work that He has entrusted into your hands. Making vows, in the sense of welcoming a new year, is a pagan practice.
James 5:12 CJB says, “Above all, brothers, stop swearing oaths – not “By heaven,” not “By the earth,” and not by any other formula; rather, let your “Yes” be simply “Yes” and your “No” simply “No,” so that you won’t fall under condemnation.”
Failing to seek God. Many authors jump in with mammon’s plan (the world system) for publishing. Their to do list consist of steps to produce a product and to brand themselves, but no steps to be a healed, whole, anointed and accountable author; or any steps for strategies for reaching those assigned to their PROPHETIC work. Something IS WRONG with this picture. Every single step of the book publishing process – for the prophetic writer – is a place of training, transformation, strategy and great humility. It is a place that must be guided by Holy Spirit – not your wonderful ideas; your writing coach; a book on publishing you picked up; or recommendations from an expert in the field. These things help, but they are NOT deal breakers. NEVER put more emphasis on the things of this world than you do on the Father.
EVERY “prophetic” author is different, and many times the Lord will have you sweep out your own house (breaking things up) that have hindered you in the past from producing the kind of “finished work” – in your heart and in your project – that honors him in every way. We must seek the Kingdom of God (his original purposes and plans for our projects and for us in the MIDST of the project) before anything else. We do not want to publish books that fail to bring Glory to the Kingdom of God. Your place of prayer and intercession is your protection and your strategic plan. Deuteronomy 34:10-12 CJB says, “Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom ADONAI knew face to face. What signs and wonders ADONAI sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!”
Failing to Educate Yourself. Having a desire to publish your book project is great; but don’t be blinded by ignorance. There are Christian writers, soon to be authors that would rather pay someone to do everything for them instead of asking Holy Spirit how to move forward. Many times, Father will seek to TEACH YOU – opening your eyes to those things you need to know as you need to know them. For example, there are some things that you should embrace head on – like learning the basics about copyrights and trademarks; learning the difference between self publishing and traditional publishing; knowing when you need an ISBN verses an ISSN. Breaking the barriers of stupidity (not pursuing wisdom) is a must! You may not need to know everything, but there is a need to know enough to PROTECT the mantle that Father has placed on you and your project.
You are PROPHETIC writers, not just a run of the mill writer who charges into a good idea. There are so many Christian writers and authors who operate in SELF only — no discernment, no conviction of sin and no concern for the impact of the message and it’s affect in the atmosphere. YOU, those who only release what God has spoken or directed, are set apart!

You can’t spiritually move with your book in the same way as someone who writes fiction, romance or erotica and move solely flesh, religion — or that Matthew 23 pharisitic/scribal error mindset. You are not walking in this place but in an EXPERIENCE FACE-TO-FACE with Father! So many “Christian authors” will never grasp the truth of their faith… and will continuously mix seed with the world. EDUCATE YOURSELF! Allow Holy Spirit to bring you into understanding and truth concerning YOUR assignment.

Matthew 13:20-23 CJB says, “The seed sown on rocky ground is like a person who hears the message and accepts it with joy at once, but has no root in himself. So he stays on for a while; but as soon as some trouble or persecution arises on account of the message, he immediately falls away. Now the seed sown among thorns stands for someone who hears the message, but it is choked by the worries of the world and the deceitful glamor of wealth, so that it produces nothing. However, what was sown on rich soil is the one who hears the message and understands it; such a person will surely bear fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Make use of your seed prophetic scribes! When Father leads you to “learn” something, it’s not just for what you’re doing now, but will grow into a point of “help” for others later.
Rushing in. This is simple, “Don’t RUSH.” Urgency in the realm of the spirit and urgency in the natural are TWO different things. The first lines you up with the timing and season of Father; and the second has the potential to spin you into chaos. I have walked more in the second type of urgency than the first. Thank God that He gave me understanding in this area or I would have gas lighted so many of the scribal projects in my hand. Please understand that by practicing patience YOU ARE NOT embracing slothfulness. Slothful people and procrastinators get this twisted. The secret here is to move at the HAND OF GOD as you listen for Him to speak to YOU about YOUR SPECIFIC project from Heaven. For the prophetic writer, what someone else may have or may not have done isn’t always relevant to you or your project. Ask Holy Spirit to guide you in patience. Pray that you meet the timing and season set for you in Heaven concerning what is in your hand; otherwise, there could be a train wreck ahead.

You can avoid these classic mistakes. Simply allow Psalm 37:23-24 CJB to have its perfect work in your life. It says, “ADONAI directs a person’s steps, and he delights in his way. He may stumble, but he won’t fall headlong, for ADONAI holds him by the hand.”

Always remember, when Adonai directs you…. it will be “face-to-face” — a drawing into HIS presence.