God Is My Editor

As Christian writers, we’re told to write “for an audience of one,” — that is, we write first and foremost for God. At the same time, we’re supposed to aim at our target audience. How do I do both? 

Here’s how I look at it (with a touch of writer’s whimsy): God is my Editor — not my audience.

He’s not my copy editor, catching my grammar and punctuation errors. Not my technical editor, checking the accuracy of every detail. Not my line editor, critiquing the clarity and flow of every word. Not my managing editor, setting deadlines and coordinating the whole process. No, God doesn’t do everything — He leaves plenty of work for me.

God is my developmental editor, my big-picture guide. He inspires the overall theme and oversees the organization of the related concepts. 

God knows my target audience better than I do. He helps shape the content to meet my readers’ needs. He may fine-tune my intended audience, better fitting them to my message.

We start with a basic premise. Sometimes God drops the whole concept into my head in a brilliant flash of inspiration. More often, He builds it in a series of small steps: a snippet of conversation I overhear, a verse included in my morning devotions, a chance encounter at the grocery store. It may also come as a life lesson, learned as I slowly trudge through some dark valley or suddenly rejoice in a mountaintop moment.

If my concept doesn’t meet with His approval, the project is a no-go. Any time I spend trying to make it work is wasted effort.

As I write, God lets me know when I’m failing to be honest, stepping on the wrong toes, or including information I shouldn’t (some stories aren’t mine to tell). He weeds out worldly wisdom and keeps me true to His Word. 

From God’s mind to mine … how does that work? When I get it right, I sense the warmth of His approval (to me it feels like a fresh breeze). When I get it wrong, I feel an uncomfortable nudge (a friend calls it “God’s thumb in her back”). Sometimes it comes through the advice of a godly adviser. Sometimes — when I’m way off base — it is absolute silence (some writer’s block can be God’s hand of restraint).

The enemy tries to come between me and God. He is a deceiver, whispering strange ideas as I type, disrupting my progress, and distorting my message. He is neither editor nor audience, but he pretends to be. Fortunately, when I turn to my true Editor, this pretender backs off.

Before anything I write is ready for prime time, I look for my Editor’s final approval. My own anxiety may get in the way, shouting “It’s not good enough!” Other times, when I think I’ve hit the end, God says, “Not yet.” My project may need more work, or my readers may not be ready. I have to wait for God’s “Now is the time.”

If I stubbornly refuse to listen to my big-picture Editor, my words will surely miss their mark. His timing is perfect. He knows me, He knows my message and He knows my readers. 

I am learning to trust my Editor. He is never wrong.

Bless your words, bless your calling!
Shirlee Abbott

Think of God as your personal Editor. How has He helped you craft your story by inspiring the premise or rearranging the content or redefining your audience?