Meet author Elizabeth Renicks
Elizabeth Renicks is an author, speaker, and teacher. A truth teller infusing every message with encouragement and hope, she offers the wisdom and experience of decades as a serious student of God’s Word. With more than 30 years’ experience writing and teaching under her belt, Elizabeth is a trusted resource for insight and encouragement from God’s Word. A wife and mom to two sons, Elizabeth calls Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home.
Tell us about your newest book.
Fully Known, Fully Loved is a 30 day devotional that invites you to rest in the unshakable truth that you are redeemed, restored, and renewed in Jesus. Overcome an orphan mindset and live in the fullness of your identity as His beloved child. It is the first in the Flourishing in Faith series—topical truth resources created to help you walk more closely with God.
What inspired you to write your story?
Knowing that my own journey and needs are not unique. I spent too many years as a believer living with a deep orphan mindset, knowing about God but not living out of trust in His love and care. I meet people all the time who share the same struggles in one way or another. We all need more of Him. It’s my joy to point people to the truths of what they have in Christ and their identity as His beloved child.
What genre do you focus on.
My genre is Christian discipleship and encouragement. Again, mostly because of the phrase “your misery is your ministry.” I spent many years as a performer, people-pleaser, and self-protector before I allowed the grace of Christ to break down my walls of fear and transform my life.
I’ve been a student of God’s Word for years. I knew a lot of things. But I was striving in my own strength to obey Scripture instead of resting in Jesus’ provision for my righteousness and fullness of life. My writing springs from discovering more and more of the Lord’s grace: His kindness to woo me from places of striving and performing into an intimate relationship of rest and trust. One of the ways I describe my writing mission to others is this: “I use truth and tools from God’s Word to help people find more intimacy with God.” My heart is to equip people to come to know more of Him, to experience the love of Jesus, and to walk confidently in His grace. I am always thinking about my readers as I write–what can I share that will bless others as God has blessed me?
Why do you write?
I write because I have been so deeply impacted by God, and the power of the Word and of words. Through reading, wrestling with text in community, studying and sharing truth from Scripture, I have fallen more and more in love with Jesus. I have grown to trust the Lord and His faithfulness. I have learned to receive His gracious, abundant love and to learn to accept how freely He gives that love to me (and to all who turn to Him).
Maybe that is why I enjoy so much the privilege of writing and speaking about Him and the reality and accessibility of intimate relationship with Jesus. It is probably why I am so excited about the books God has called me to write and to share.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I’m a stay-at-home homeschool mom who is less than a year away from empty nester, so I have a good bit of freedom to write. I usually spend the early morning in time with the Lord, followed by work on whatever writing project I have going. I often write in a coffee shop once or twice a week to get a break from working at home. Often I will write in big blocks of time over a short period to finish out a book-length work.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
It gets lonely at times because writing is a solitary experience in many ways. I also find the “business side” of things to be challenging at times, mostly because much of it is new to me. I wrote for other organization or freelanced for years. I have only just recently stepped out into writing the things I feel driven to write, and that is a whole other ball game with a different set of rules.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
Getting to create with the Lord. Finding new ideas and seeing them come to life to encourage or inspire others. Thinking about things that I can leave in others’ hearts and minds through my words is very exciting to me. Books have always been my teachers. I have been shaped by all kinds of books, from my favorite fiction genres to my go-to: nonfiction. The writings of Christian men and women of faith throughout history, specifically, have deeply influenced my relationship with God and my character.
I cannot overstate the power that the writings and words of men and women of faith have had on my life. The right words are a powerful tool of redemption, reorientation, and refreshment.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I have a really varied resume and pursue a lot of seemingly disconnected interests. I am a life-long learner. Curious. Admittedly nerdy. I am more comfortable in a group of teenagers than I am in a room full of adults. I have been involved in youth ministry, high school teaching and coaching or homeschooling for most of the past 30 years. I get really excited about helping people learn things and I love to encourage them to reach for more than they thought.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I think I take the value of my words much more seriously now than I did 35 years ago as a young writer and newspaper reporter/editor. I have learned over time to be grateful for the comments of those who inevitably help shape every writers’ work—editors, designers, readers. I used to think of it as needing to have thick skin to brave the comments of others. Now I think of it more as an opportunity to grow and be better. If am not communicating clearly, then I need to listen and find out how to do that. I had more hubris as a writer when I was younger.
What is your favorite pastime?
Probably reading. But I also love a good, lingering conversation about ideas or what is going on in another’s heart. I’m also a runner recovering from Achilles surgery, so I do love the idea of getting back out on the road to run.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
In addition to this latest devotional, I am the author of Return and Rest: A Study in Isaiah 30 (a six week Bible study) as well as contributor to several anthologies. I also wrote a high school Bible textbook 20 years ago called Missio Dei: Joining God on the Adventure of a Lifetime.
What are you working on now?
Several things… the next installment of the Flourishing in Faith devotional series, plus gathering and outlining for a memoir (and possibly a book of essays and another Bible study). I have about seven years’ worth of journals I am combing through to help tell some of the stories God wants me to share. We shall see.
Website: www.elizabethrenicks.com
Link to book: https://amzn.to/4ouQwff
Social media links: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.m.renicks
https://www.instagram.com/emrenicks
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