Walk Worthy Press: Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray

Author Testimony

"One of my earliest memories is of a doll house I received for Christmas when I was just four or five. I remember moving the little plastic people around in the house and thinking to myself, "this must be how God does it. This is how he moves us around." Then, I began to sing, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. That may have been a simplistic view, but it was a view of a God who had already revealed himself to a small child. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't know Him and more importantly, when I didn't know that I was in His Hands.

As a young child I recognized that my love for reading and writing were gifts that came from the Lord. And, as I got older and entered high school, then college, I thanked God for giving me the gift of writing which helped me to excel in my studies.

But though I recognized my God-given talent, I never had a single thought of writing for the Lord. You see, my desire was to write novels - similar to those I was reading. I wanted to write fiction and God certainly didn't have a place in fiction. He was real. There was no place for Him in the type of writing I was going to do.

But, the great thing about our Lord is that He is patient and He will do all things in His time. Though I wanted nothing more than to write, God led me down a totally different path until He was ready to use my hands through novels. I spent over ten years in Corporate America, then opened a Financial Services agency. I was extremely blessed in those endeavors. I excelled and continued to give God the glory for everything that happened in my life. But even through those very prosperous careers, my heart continued to hold on to my desire to be an author. I didn't know when or how it would happen, but I knew that one day my desire would be granted.

The years passed and in 1995, I had a life-changing experience. I became a member of Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church in Inglewood, California. From the first Sunday when I sat in the middle of the congregation, my pastor, Dr. Beverly Crawford, exposed me to things I had never heard. Though I'd grown up in the church, it wasn't until I walked through Pastor Crawford's doors that I learned how to have a personal relationship with Christ. I learned how to apply the Word to every part of my life, every day. And, most importantly, I learned how to communicate with God - I learned how to talk to Him and listen to Him; I learned how to pray. My life was forever turned around. I remember thinking in church one day, "Everyone needs to know about this."

It still took two years for me to connect my developing relationship with God and the gift He had given me. When the Holy Spirit told me that I was going to write a Christian book, I protested out loud. "I want to write fiction! No one wants to read about You when they're reading for entertainment." Thank God for His patience. More months passed before I finally warmed to the idea - to combine my love for the Lord with my desire to write.

It is very clear to me that this novel, TEMPTATION, is from God. I was an avid reader, but never had I read fiction with a spiritual message. There was nothing to pattern my writing after - all I could do was follow what God gave me.

I began writing TEMPTATION in April, 1997 and completed the book in July, 1997. Three months later, the self-published book was on book store shelves.

God continues to reveal Himself to me daily through this book. From the way I found an agent, to the way the book was published this year, it is clear that this is a project for Him and of Him. I know that I am blessed that God chose my fingers. And, I am blessed that He wants me to continue to write for him. I have an extensive list of themes that He has dropped into my spirit for novels. I know that I will continue to write for the Lord for many years to come.

There is nothing I can do except give God all the glory for the great things He has done. My prayer is that my work will exalt Him and plant seeds so that many others may come to know that He holds the whole world in His Hands."

Victoria Christopher Murray

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