Make a Difference with Writing—Keep Your Light Shining

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
The light in the sanctuary grew steadily in the silence. Adults and children alike handled their stewardship with care—to keep the light shining. A sacred tradition, candlelight passed from person to person in the Christmas Eve service that I watched online. Once every candle was lit, the pastor, Dr. David Jeremiah, stood at the front and led everyone in a simple but poignant song for the moment—“This Little Light of Mine.” Each lit candle symbolized a person who could make a difference. Just as the candlelight illuminated the people’s faces that evening, my heart was illuminated with inspiration to make a difference for God and His kingdom. I may be one person, but I can do my part. And when I join with you, fellow writers, to write for God in this generation, our combined light shines brilliantly for the world to see. This precious little light of mine, how much do I let it shine? 
In the darkness of this world, God urges us to keep the light going. His Holy Spirit nudges us to pass on the light we’ve been given. 
How can we be faithful stewards of God’s light in four vital areas of life—our words, our actions, our knowledge, and our prayers?
Make a Difference with the Light You Have Been Given
1. Our Words
As you write, pull from the understanding God has given you of Scripture, life, and Himself, and write about a topic you’re passionate about. Help your target audience by answering a question, solving a problem, or meeting a felt need. Share how you needed the light of God’s truth to persevere and what He did to provide it. Depend on the ability God gives you (1 Peter 4:11) to minister to those who need the light.
2. Our Actions
We stay committed to the truth by practicing it. As writers, we have the privilege of learning from the Light of the World and sharing His light with others. Dirty lanterns don’t radiate much light. The way we keep our “lanterns” clean is by living the truths we’re writing about. A life that backs up the words we share is a powerful force for good in this world and a confirmation that what we say, works. A changed life is an inspiration for others to accept God’s light.
3. Our Knowledge
I love my GPS’ satisfying conclusion of every trip I take—“You have arrived.” Yet even the apostle Paul didn’t claim to have “arrived.” In Philippians 2:12 (NKJV), he says, “Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on.” As writers, we press on to new heights of spiritual understanding and heart transformation. We constantly seek to grow in our knowledge of both the truth and the writing craft, so we can give excellence in every light-sharing instance. Taking in more light keeps our candles constantly lit. We never stop growing.
4. Our Prayers
“Be serious and watchful in your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7 NKJV). Staying close to God in prayer keeps us close to the source of truth and guides us as we write. Prayer prepares the writer to write and the reader to read. God knows which words to use for which audience. He knows how to weave the dazzling colors of His light together to create a brilliant shaft of truth that penetrates the darkness, revives the soul, shatters lies, and chases away evil. Praying through every project unleashes His power in our writing. Then we know that our words came from Him.
We can make an eternal difference for God and His kingdom. Which of the four ways above do you think would help writers to shine the best for God? 
Book Giveaway: If you comment on this post by Friday, February 21st, at 2 pm, you will be entered into a drawing for a new book,  The Power to Make a Difference . Published by my family’s company, Lighthouse Bible Studies, this book shares strategies, insights, and encouragement in forty short Bible studies written by twenty-seven authors. The four sections discuss the power of words, the power of doing, the power of knowing, and the power of prayer. So be sure to comment! I’ll pull a name for our drawing on Friday afternoon and announce the winner in a comment on this post. Then I’ll contact the winner for a mailing address.
Keep making a difference for God, dear writer. Keep your light shining. 
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Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character, which was a 2019 Selah Awards finalist and Director’s Choice finalist. She is planning a sequel to another Selah finalist, Breaking the Chains (2017), titled Sustaining Life’s Victories.
Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, the Arise Daily blog, and two blogs on writing. She loves spending time with family and friends, making jewelry, and hunting for the best donuts. Connect with her at her blog, The Scrapbooked Bible Study, and on Facebook and Twitter.