Preparing Your Plot For His Rain

on freedigitalphotos.net by federico stevanin

I may not always be a plotter in my writing life, but I've often been a plotter in conversation. Come on, we all do it, I am sure. We think about what we are going to say next time we meet that hard-to-love person...decide what "zinger" we might spout off to defend ourselves, or what Scripture we might quote to pridefully convict someone...um...please say I am not the only one?

For the past three months, I have been in the Scripture on a daily basis more than ever before. I have developed a deeper prayer life, and have grown closer in my walk. It's funny, well...not-so-fun funny, how this season of rain in my spiritual walk has me dredging through the desert in my earthy one. In many areas of life. I choose not to expound, but some of you who know me, know what I am talking about.

on freedigitalphotos.net by chayathonwong2000

God is certainly working behind the scenes in this desert of mine, and when I face a whipping sandy wind or one of those "needs plotting out" conversations that I think I'm not prepared for, my reservoir from my spiritual rainy season, bubbles up and pours truth into my earthly desert--without my own plotting. A supernatural spring of words flows into my conversation that I never even knew was there.

And it comes from roots fully nourished in the prepared gardening (or Scripturally-sown) soil of my heart.

I think, sometimes, as writers, we over-plot--not necessarily our stories, but the truths we hope to show. They get scattered into our writing like seeds on rocky soil, little nuggets we may have read or know in our head.  But is it what God has sown deeply in our hearts to blossom in our words for purposeful truths according to HIS PLAN?

on freedigitalphotos.net by adamr

Do you know what I mean?

Do you sit and write a story fully trusting God to pour out the truth HE WANTS TO SHOW in your words, or have you pre-conceived truth that will play out in your story?

In my recent encounters in the desert of life, God has presented conversations that have pulled truth from my heart through my lips that I didn't even realize was significant when I read it earlier in His Scripture...

BUT IT WAS FOR A TIME SO PERFECTLY PLOTTED BY MY GOD!

I crave the next time He allows for this harvest to occur in my life. But, I also hope that He meets me on the pages of my story.

How do we even hope for this in our writing?

First, just as we do for real life circumstance, we must prepare the soil of our heart, saturate it with Scripture on a daily basis.

Second, we must listen. We must listen to the growing murmurs of our heart (um...the Holy Spirit??) during every sentence we write. We must not be stuck in our own plotting scheme, but wait upon the more effective plotting of our Lord.

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Have you ever read a book that presents a nice glossy sheen of God's truth on the surface of a well-plotted story? How about a book that tills deeply, and magnificently sprouts a thriving vine of fruit without any gloss, but with the glistening dew of God's truth reborn?

Let's not just write to be read, but write prepared for His rain on a plot uniquely planted to become a rich garden of His truth.

What truths do you hope to weave into your stories? 

Has God ever changed the words you planned to write, to reveal a truth deeper than you plotted?

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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

Whispers of Hope and A Giveaway!

             I write
                               and write 
                                                     and write.

Words spill forth, inspired by my God. Words pour out from the depths of my soul. But somewhere along the way, I squeeze words out from human expectation--from a desire to create without regard for the One who created me. Sometimes, I smudge that line between 'inspired by His word' and 'inspiring words that sound good'. I stumble and crash into a barricade of selfish desire to create words that manipulate hearts the way I want to.
When we're in the business of inspiring and creating as writers, sometimes, we should step back and make sure our hearts are in line with the Only One who can truly inspire. It is during my own season of stepping back to remember Truth in God alone, that I received Beth Moore's devotional, Whispers of Hope, 10 Weeks of Devotional Prayer.

Whispers of Hope has three major areas that offer hope to any woman of God, and definitely any writer longing for intimacy with the most Perfect Author of our stories:

1.  Scripture Focus:

For thirteen years, I have delighted in Beth Moore's studies because of the mere fact that I walk away from each amazed by the intricacy of exploring original meaning and divine connections among Scripture from Old to New Testaments. In typical Beth Moore fashion, her newest devotional does not disappoint with Scripture-laden application that doesn't skim the surface, but digs deep and often explores the original language to give greater understanding. 

2.  Deep Prayer Formula:
Since the book's main focus is on prayer, it has space for guided prayer journaling. This excites me. Before I ever sat down at a computer to write my first story, I wrote by hand...and I journaled. Using Beth's acronym has probably been the most eye-opening aspect of this devotional book. I have found that in using this acronym, my prayers organically flow and guide me in a thorough outpouring of my heart to the Lord, especially because Beth suggests thanksgiving should flow throughout each of the sections. This is where my selfishness flees and humility is given room to grow!

Beth uses P.R.A.I.S.E, to form the prayer.

First, P is for Praise. The best way to take the focus off of my stuff, is to reflect on Him and Who He is.

Next, R is for Repent. This is something I so easily forget to do, but it's vital to stepping forward in intimacy with Him. When I can ask for forgiveness, I feel like I can be used by God in more extraordinary ways since I don't have sin weighing me down.

A is for Acknowledge. Acknowledge his Authority in our lives. Beth says, "We can praise God all day long with our lips yet never deliberately surrender to His lordship with our hearts." This is something that made me take that step back in the first place. I was trying to claim authority over my life and my writing when it really is not mine at all.

I is for Intercede. To pray for those the Lord brings to mind. Another great way to get the focus off of me!

S is for Supplication, which is in perfect order in this acronym. My family always says, "I am third"--God, Others, then Myself. Once we've focused on God and others, praying for our needs and desires brings us to a deeper dependency and intimacy with God.

Beth Moore, Living Proof Ministries

And finally, E is for Equipping. Asking God to equip us the rest of the day is a great way to close in prayer, and for us writers, look forward to God answering this specific part of our prayer!

3.  Christ-Centered Life Application: 

I picked up Whispers of Hope during a season of spiritual wrestling. My heart was heavy with lies uncovered, and truths yet to be found out. I was in a place where I had focused on myself, assuming my will could measure up to God's--especially when it came to my dream to seek publication. And when I discovered my self-centered way of thinking, I found refuge in sloughing away my fluffy self-talk and focusing back on the One who deserves all attention. Just a glimpse of how the devotional met me first off, see what Beth says after exploring the story of the tower of Babel on page 11 of her book:

"God's response? "If they're this foolish and self-centered, they'll try anything.' Brick after brick, we humans sought to determine our own fate. Despite all the efforts, we never imposed our will on God, but God imposed His on us." In every daily devotion, you can be sure to find poignant life application that will meet you where you are at. It is through Beth's examples and deciphering of Scripture, that the Word becomes alive and applicable to your own life in a unique way.

My season of stepping back from all that influence me, and the fleshy desires of my heart, is certainly not one of a backward journey from God. With this God-focused, Scripture-centered devotional from Beth Moore, my heart is filled with whispers of Hope from the One and Only Author of my story. And with a heart in line with His,
           I write
                               and write 
                                                     and write.

***Want the chance to win a copy of this amazing devotional?? Please let me know in the comment section!***

Please share of a time when you needed to just step back and return your focus on God, whether in writing or just in life!

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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.