Thursday, August 13, 2020

Praying God’s Word over Your Words –Prayers for the Writing Journey


By Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

The Bible is filled with prayers from notablel giants like Paul, David, Moses, Aaron, Jabez, Ezra, and others. The New Testament records Jesus’ prayers, too. 

Throughout the years, I’ve enjoyed voicing many of those same prayers for different aspects of my writing journey.

Below are a few of my favorites. 

When I need direction in my writing: 
  • Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:4-5 NLT
  • Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Psalm 119:34-35 NLT
  • Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11 ESV
  • Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Psalm 31:3 NIV

When rejections and discouraging times come:
  • My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:28 NKJV
  • Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught. Psalm 55:1-2 NIV  
  • God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Luke 18:13 ESV
  • Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:7-10 ESV

When seeking favor for my writing: 
  • Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain. 1 Chronicles 4:10 ESV
  • And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that your bond-servants may speak your word with all confidence. Acts 4:29 NASB
  • If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. Exodus 33:13 NLT
  • For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:17 KJV

Before, during, and after my writing: 
  • You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Psalm 30:11-12 NIV
  • And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13 ESV
  • How I rejoice in the Lord! How he has blessed me! Now I have an answer for my enemies, For the Lord has solved my problem. How I rejoice! No one is as holy as the Lord! There is no other God, Nor any Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:1-2 TLB
  • I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:1 NIV

Do you have favorite words straight from God’s Word that you pray specifically for your writing journey? Will you share them with me? I’d love to add more to my collection. 

TWEETABLE

Journalist and author Julie Lavender has already spent countless minutes and hours praying for her new book, 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories, published by Revell, with the initial concept, throughout the writing process, along the publication journey, and for the families who’ll take part in the book’s suggestions when it releases in October. Julie also spent bunches of hours praying for a co-authored book project with Michelle Cox, Be Still and Take A Bubble Bath, published  by BroadStreet, that just released this month, along with the companion book, Be Still and Put Your PJs On, authored by Michelle Cox and Sylvia Schroeder. Julie would love to connect with you on social media and on her Group Facebook page, 365 Ways to Love Your Child.

16 comments:

  1. Thanks Julie for these amazing verses!!!

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    1. Thank you so much, Darlene! I appreciate your kind words and appreciate your FB share!! That means a lot to me!

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  2. Thank you for your post, Julie. The Word of God never returns void (Isaiah 55: 11). Praise His Holy Name!

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    1. That verse in Isaiah is one of my very favorites, too, MaryAnn, and always reminds me that whether one person, fifty people, or no one but me reads the words I've written or shared from Scripture, those words never return void, because He is the Almighty Author.

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  3. Julie,

    Thank you for this article and the pointed reminders from Scripture that as Christians we can pray Scripture and talk with the God of the Universe. Scripture is one of our most powerful weapons against Satan.

    I love the prayer in Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me."

    Terry
    author of 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed

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    1. Terry, I'm so thankful that we have a Heavenly Father that we can talk to/with at any time, and I'm so very thankful for His words in Scripture that I can turn to any time, also! I think it would serve me well to pray Psalm 51:10 every day! Thanks for commenting, Terry! You're always so faithful to read and comment and share and encourage!

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  4. Amen. Thank you for this special message.

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    1. Thank you, Melissa! I really appreciate your comment!! Hope you are well! Blessings on your writing.

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  5. I love your words this morning. They are so inspiring. Thank you for your post.

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    1. Thank you, Diane! God's word never ceases to amaze me and inspires me, too! Thanks for the comment!

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  6. Thank you for sharing these wonderful Bible verses, Julie. I pray for God's direction and blessing over my writing, but praying Scripture over my writing is even more powerful.

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  7. Crystal, I tend to pray most often for direction and blessing on my writing, but I love when God reminds me to pray Scriptures, too, over my writing. His words are so powerful to me! Thanks for commenting!

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  8. What a lovely blog post article! I'm bookmarking this for future reference.

    Here are a couple of favorite scripture prayers I have for my writing:

    "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." Prov 16:3

    "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

    Thank you!

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    1. Excellent, Kay! I'm adding those to my list, also! Two more of my favorites!! Thanks for commenting!

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  9. Thanks so much for these prayers, Julie. Excellent choices.

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    1. Thank you, Jeannie! LOVE God's Word!!! Blessings on your writing, my friend!

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