Walk Worthy Press: Forgivin' Ain't Forgettin' by Mata Elliot

Author Testimony

Writing has always been something I’ve loved to do, so I’ve been forming stories for as long as I can remember. However, writing a book did not come easy, and although I rarely reached those moments when I wanted to quit, there were many times I wondered why God had selected me to write for Him. Often during the process my head throbbed with the messages you aren’t smart enough or outgoing enough or even spiritually mature enough to write a book for God.

Thankfully, God wasn’t the skeptic that I was, and He led me to scriptures such as “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” and “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” I meditated on these Bible verses and many others daily. I hung them over my computer so I could read them as I wrote. In doing this, I gained the confidence to complete my first novel, but I also came to realize just how powerless I am without God. Each chapter--each word I had written was not because of talent or a love for writing but because God, and God alone, blessed me with the strength, courage, and faith to do it. It is through Him that I have become a published author, and I praise Him for this privilege.

I have also come to understand that the decision to write for God means more than creating a book. It means writing a story that can be used to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s desire is that everyone comes to know Him. For me, a Christian who is a writer, writing books is a ministry, and I know without a doubt that God wants me to use my gift from Him to draw people to Him. He wants my writing to echo His message of compassion, healing, and forgiveness. Through writing, He wants me to tell people that He loves them in spite of anything they have done wrong, and that there is absolutely nothing that they have done that can keep them from Him. Jesus died for everyone, and if you want to receive His love, He unconditionally gives it. All you have to do is ask Him to forgive you for being disobedient to His Word, and that easily, you are SAVED and ready to begin walking according to His plans for your life.

Now, in no way am I saying that being a Christian means a life without problems. Certainly there are times when Christians have problems, experience fear, make mistakes, and question their purpose, and this is one of the reasons I find tremendous satisfaction in writing novels that feature characters who acknowledge God as the core of their lives. Although my characters have accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts, it is my intention for my characters to reflect the reality that deliverance seldom happens overnight. Spiritual growth is a process. If you had issues before you got saved, you will probably have those issues after you get saved until you confront them, carry them to God, and allow Him to do whatever He needs to do with you to bring you into wholeness. In other words, if you want to be set free from your chains, you have to be willing to admit that you’re still wearing them. The good news is that God is the key that unlocks every chain we have.

I also intend for my characters to demonstrate that living for Jesus Christ does not mean you are burdened or bound by what you can’t do but it means that because youare God’s child you are free to experience the boundless wonders and joys of God; you are abundantly blessed and supernaturally empowered to accomplish all that He has set before you. With this in mind, my heartfelt prayer for every reader is that you continue to discover how blessed you are, how special you are to God, and how special He is as you draw closer to Him every day.

Mata Elliott

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