A Writer’s Prayerful Offering of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (NLT)

What gifts can I bring to the King this season? From my treasure chest of writing tools, what can I humbly offer Jesus? I pondered the Wise Men’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and came up with three prayers to take me through the Christmas season and into the new year.

A Golden Prayer

So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7 ESV 

Dear God, please guide every word I write with pen, pencil, or computer. Whether I write tight or expound prolifically, give me words that will praise you as the most Holy of Holies, as the only true God, as the Creator and Maker of all. May the words I put on paper, whether they result in publication or temporary rejection, glorify and honor you as the Almighty Father. May the words I speak or print reveal Jesus Christ to others and point them to you. Amen. 

A Fragrant Frankincense Prayer

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 ESV

Dearest Lord Jesus, help me walk in love daily. Wherever my writing path takes me, may every step be a fragrant offering to you. Let the words I write and publish exhibit my love for you and my love for others. Help me choose words carefully, so that every fellow author, editor, publisher, or reader will feel Christ’s love flowing through me. May my love be genuine, sincere, and kind in each step of the journey. Thank you for loving me. Help me love you more deeply and in turn, love others more sacrificially. In Your precious name, amen. 

An Overflowing Prayer

You prepare a feast before me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5 NLT 

Most gracious heavenly Father, thank you for the anointing and calling you’ve given me to write for your kingdom’s purposes. Thank you for the abundant and extravagant gifts you give me each day, the ones I acknowledge and the ones I fail to recognize. Thank you for the feast of writing friends, the bounty of writing opportunities, the banquet of wisdom and expertise of writers, editors, and publishers who’ve come before me, the buffet of readers and supporters, and the filling of your presence that is most precious of all. My cup overflows with blessings, Lord, and I am so grateful for your good gifts. May I prove faithful to share those gifts with others. Amen. 

As the 2023 writing year comes to a close, what prayers and gifts do you bring to the newborn King? 

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A Writer’s Prayerful Offering of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh from @JLavenderWrites on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Julie is excited about the Christmas season and spending time with family during that time. She’s also excited about the release of two books since October: the bilingual edition of her award-winning, Amazon bestselling, Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime and Strength for All Seasons: A Mom’s Devotional of Powerful Verses and Prayers