A Prayer For Our Writing


A Prayer For Our Writing, by Sarah Frazer

The cursor blinks on the blank page. Empty. White. Full of potential. The blank slate can either feel intimidating or inspiring. How does that cursor feel to you? Each year we get a new beginning and we need to make time to make goals for the new year.

When a new year rolls around, I usually sit with my pen and a notebook and make a plan. I’m a planner girl at heart and I love lists. Making goals and dreams for the new year is always so exhilarating. Where is my writing going to take me? What should I write? What should I focus on this year? 

This year, as I brought out my planner and notebook, I sat with my pen in hand and stopped. The word “I” and “my” suddenly appeared all over my pages. Wait. Where was God in all of my planning? Inside my heart, I felt His nudge, “Why don’t you pray over this?”

Proverbs 16:1 says, “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord” (ESV). That means our words are really from God. And then verse 3 continues with, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Another translation says to “entrust your work…” It is easy to trust my goals and dreams to God, but my writing? For this year, God is asking me to entrust my writing to Him.

 

“Dear Heavenly Father, 

You have placed this dream of writing in my heart. It is not a hobby but a calling. I might not believe it is from you, but I feel the burning inside me to write. You have called me to this profession. It doesn’t matter if I ever write a book or publish a piece of my writing. I put the words on paper because You have called me to do so. And those You call, You equip. Give me wisdom and direction as I go into this next year. 

Let me use my writing to draw near to You. The distractions will come, but as I draw closer and closer to You this year, I want to see You. Let my writing be a way to commune with You. Others might not understand what I write or even understand my calling, but You do. And I want to use this tool of writing to connect with You. 

The words I write are for a reader and for a purpose. But this reader, she is not mine. This reader is Yours. She is loved and treasured by You. Let me write to the woman who is loved by You and needs Your hope today. Keep her first in my mind when I go to share my words. 

Sometimes I forget my purpose. Remind me again of Your glory, Your name and Your renown. This is the reason I write. Whether the words are shared or hidden away, I pray those words will speak of You and who You are. 

I praise You for this dream of writing. I praise You for these plans. I entrust them to You. Please take my writing and use it. The words are safe with You. My words are safe with You. 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

 

Will you join me and pray over your writing this year? God is with us. Let us start this new year looking to Jesus. Even if you don’t know where the writing is going to go, you can begin with prayer.

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Comments

  1. Sarah~
    Yes and Amen. I’m not looking to write a book unless God leads. My goal is to become skilled at writing content for our ministry. I align my heart to God’s for His purposes and yield to His words through me.

  2. Amanda Ferguson: July 14, 2023 at 2:20 am

    I just joined COMPEL and your “Prayer for Writing” was listed as one of the suggested readings in my new members “self assessment” I am so grateful this!!

    Thank you for reminding me to keep my eyes, heart, and mind continually focused on God and what He can do with my little loaves and fishes.

    This affected me so much that the first entry in my writing notebook was about this “Prayer for Writing.”

    THANK YOU!!

  3. Phillip Gilbert: March 13, 2023 at 5:57 pm

    This is beautiful! I’m new to COMPEL Training and still finding my way, but it is an absolutely fabulous ministry and testimony to the Good Lord.

    The part — “Others might not understand … but the Lord wants to use this tool of writing to connect … ”

    So true and encouraging! Reminds us we are not alone, not with COMPEL and not with the Lord, and it’s obvious both walk hand in hand.

    Phillip

    Matthew 28:20 “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even until the end of the age.”

  4. Thank you for this beautiful and encouraging prayer!

  5. Thank you for your words of encouragement and this beautiful prayer!

  6. Thank you Sarah for this beautiful prayer.

  7. So thankful for this prayer. The tears came as I read it. This prayer was prayed for me. My every emotion is in this prayer.

  8. Kimberlea Hardy: August 9, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    I love this! I’m going to come back to it in January when I set my goals for the new year.

  9. Sophia Satariano: August 2, 2022 at 7:34 pm

    Amen, thank you Sarah.

  10. Hope wharton Wharton: July 10, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Though it is the middle of the year. I am beginning this prayer right where I am. AMEN!

  11. Nicole Pastrana: January 21, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    Beautiful prayer as we start this new year.

  12. Beautiful timing and prayer.
    Thank you, friend.

  13. Christine Thomas: October 11, 2021 at 10:46 am

    Thank you for this prayer! It helps me to calm my nerves and soul down. To remember that it is God’s words that are coming through to the pages in front of me.

  14. Beautiful prayer, the words that expressed what is in my heart! Thank you. Today is my first day at COMPEL, and so far everything I have read, watched, and looked at are hitting home and straight to my heart. I am excited and thankful for all of you!

  15. So good! Thank you! My first day at Compel, and your prayer hits home! 100%!! The reminder that God will give us the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. He is in control! It is just another walk through the pages of our journals. I am trusting God and grateful for the bumpy journey ahead.