I can’t say I have
a strategy for prayer for my writing.
I am not in the habit of praying in a specific way before each writing day. But
I do usually start my day with the prayer: Speak,
LORD, for your servant is listening.
I believe that
when I am in an attitude of listening for God’s voice, for the Spirit’s
nudging, then whatever I do, whether writing or doing the dishes, it is done
with a heart open for God to work through me.
Prayer is a little
like breathing.
Breathe out – LORD, use my words.
Breathe in – God
speaks.
Breathe out - May your love, your heart flow through me
onto the page.
Breathe in – God
directs, nudges, affirms.
Breathe out – Thank you for Your guidance and Your wisdom.
Yes, there are
times when I do spiritual battle over a piece of writing, and then I get very
specific in my prayer for that writing at that time. But the breathing kind of
prayer is such that anything can happen in any moment.
It is such an unconscious
thing at times that an idea will seem to come from nowhere (but of course I
know God has sparked it). This was very clear when I wrote a poem for Christmas
one year. I didn’t know I would be writing a poem but suddenly there was this
rhythm in my head. First came the rhythm, then came the idea, then came the
hard work of finding and fitting words to the rhythm and to the theme. During
that whole busy week, in which I had little time to write, the rhythm and the
words came stronger and stronger. It was hard work but it was work I knew I
wasn’t doing alone. As I wrote, it seemed that God was right there, looking
over my shoulder saying, “Uhuh, uhuh. No that word doesn’t work, try something
else. Very good! That’s coming along.” He gave the rhythm. He gave the idea. I
did the work, with His constant blessing. None of that would have happened if I
hadn’t been in an attitude of listening for His voice.
I do often hear
those other voices Glynis talks about, and I often succumb to
self-condemnation. However, God’s voice is never condemning. That’s how I know
it is His. I have found that if I ask God to speak and really open my heart to
listen, He will lead in whatever I do.
Photo by Pixabay
Joylene writes at Scraps of Joy.
I like the way you use just the right word... must be God over your shoulder!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this encouraging blog, Joylene, that reminds us that praying is like breathing and that God is our greatest encourager if we just tune into what he is telling us. Prayer is a conversation with God. You make it clear that the listening is as important as the speaking.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly on the breathing in, breathing out. I think the subconsciousness of it all is how His spirit gets so intertwined with our being ... I think that is how it is meant to be when Christ dwells in us. I really connected with this post. Was hoping you might have included the Christmas poem as well :) Thank you.
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