Imperfect Word Offerings - Tracy Krauss

At the halfway mark of the month, I thought I'd start with Sandi Somers' prompt on day one:

InScriber Bryan Norford once wrote on how he is driven to pray each day before writing: "Lord, my thinking and understanding is so often fallen and distorted. I desperately need your insight and wisdom, that as I write, I may clearly express your thoughts and desires.” How does Bryan’s quote resonate with you?

Honestly, I struggled with this one - not because I don't pray or believe in the power of prayer - but because I felt inadequate. My thinking and understanding are so fallen. So distorted. Like Paul, I feel like 'the chief of sinners'. I want my words to express His thoughts and desires, but I know beyond a doubt that I fall short - a lot.  

And yet I am convinced that God wants to use me as a writer. 

I'd like to say that I pray consistently before writing, but that would be a lie. I pray more often than not, and even if I don't, I think my motivation is to always write for the Lord, even if I'm writing fiction. I have started many writing projects bathed in prayer and I have started many without. Often I am compelled to pray before hand, but sometimes I forget. I'm sure that the times I've prayed have worked out the best, but then again, as Glynis and others have pointed out, God has been gracious even when I haven't been faithful. Those are the times when my prayers - after the fact - are full of thankful humility. I'm reminded that God often uses the weakest vessels for His purposes, and boy, do I feel weak at times! Too weak to be of any real use.

This, too, is distorted thinking. For when I am weak, He is strong. There is no point beating myself up for my shortcomings. He can see past my inconsistencies. He knows my heart. And in my heart, every word is an offering - even if it's an imperfect one.