Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Praying the Bible for Writers

Praying the word has been transformational in my life. I wanted to share a few verses for the writing life.

“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”  Psalm 45:1

Stir my heart towards what you want me to write. You are the person I write for. Grow me in skill that I might better share the noble themes of what you have done for us.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Give me discernment that I might correctly handle the word of truth in my writing. I pray that my writing would reflect your word, and your truth.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

Thank you for the good work you can do through our writing if we are obedient to you. Help us to be cleansed vessels, that you might use us in this way.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Grow our trust in all areas of life. It is only through you we can grow in understanding. Give us submissive hearts to you.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4

Build our delight in you. Align our writing desires and all our desires with yours for us.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Thank you that you have a good plan for our lives if we love you and are called according to your purpose.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

In our writing, as in all things help us to run to get the prize. Grow us in self-control and discipline.

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”  Ephesians 6:7

Help us to remember that our writing is first for you. Let us be obedient with our whole heart.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Lord, help us to rejoice in all circumstances, including rejections and other painful times. Help us to be truly thankful, knowing that you use these things in our lives to grow us. Let these things stir us on towards prayer.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8

Lord, help us to think on these things and let our writing inspire others to think on these excellent, praiseworthy, noble, pure, true, right and lovely things.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”  Proverbs 16:9

Thank you that you have a plan for our writing and our lives that is better than anything we could think or plan. Help us to submit to this plan knowing how much you love us.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 4:10-11

Lord, help us to use our writing to serve others. Help us to be faithful of the things you have entrusted to us. Help us to only speak and write the words that are in accordance with your word. Help us to quit relying on our own strength and only walk in yours. May you alone be praised through our writing.

"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.-Jeremiah 31:33

What verses do you like to pray? Any favorite verses that encourage you in your writing life?





7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm printing this out to put in my Bible! <3 Love these

Emily Conrad said...

Amen! Great post! :)

Robin E. Mason said...

YES and AMEN!!! speaking / praying the Word is so powerful. i naively began this implementing this technique in 1989 with a booklet called The Power of the Spoken Word. when i first started saying the Scriptures in that booklet it was bland and dry. now, step back jack, 'cause i speak it with conviction and fire in my heart. and it has transformed me—THANK GOD!!! i've printed these out as well (thanks Meghan for the suggestion!) and wll apply them to my writing!
happy new year all, may 2016 be a most prosperous writing year!!!

Casey said...

I have always loved Ephesians 2:10 and reading it in this context, through the eyes of a writer is a wonderful new light to shed on things. Thank you for sharing this collection of verses and the prayers for each one, Julia!

Angela said...

Great post. Thanks!

Pepper Basham said...

Julia,
I'm saving this!! Oh my goodness how I needed it. Thank you, Julia! What a beautiful reminder of The Author's words to his authors ;-)

Tessa Emily Hall said...

Definitely bookmarking this as well! These prayers are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

Tessa Emily Hall
www.christiswrite.blogspot.com