A Happy New Year Task for Writers

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

Today, I have a brief challenge for you. 

If you haven’t already done this, would you consider taking a few minutes to consecrate your 2025 writing life to God? 

According to the dictionary, consecrate means “to make or declare sacred.” Another word we might use in place of consecrate is dedicate, which means “to set apart for a definite use.” 

So why would we do this? 

There are numerous examples in the Old Testament of God instructing his people to take the time to consecrate themselves before a big undertaking—before they entered the promised land, etc. There are also many instances of them being commanded by their kings or military leaders to consecrate themselves to the Lord before a battle. 

In the New Testament, Paul tells the Romans to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” 

And Peter tells us, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 

As we enter 2025, does it not feel to you that we are on the cusp of a big undertaking? A battle for souls? Do you feel the call to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light?” 

I do. I feel it all around me. 

So, what would this look like? I’ll give you a few suggestions, but ultimately, this is between you and God. What do you sense him calling you to do?

As a starting place, it looks like intentionally praying over the coming year—the projects, proposals, contest entries, storylines, readers, conferences, social media presence, etc. Give everything to God and ask for His wisdom and direction. 

You could take this further and pray over your office, your writing space, your computer, even your phone! 

And don’t forget about your body. The hands, the eyes, the brain, the legs, and the hips. Because you’ll be sitting for hours as you seek to serve God this way. 

I would suggest that you allow God to lead you as you consecrate everything to Him. He’ll probably surprise you with what He considers part of your writing life! 

One more thing: Whether you’re reading this on January 2 or December 10, it’s never too late to take this step.

But the New Year feels like a good time to consecrate—to dedicate—every aspect of our writing life to God. To intentionally put ourselves under His authority. To acknowledge his sovereignty. To ask for his guidance. And, ultimately, to declare our trust in Him. 

As we enter 2025, my prayer for all of us is that we will put God on display through our words and that He will be glorified! 

Grace and peace,

Lynn

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Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat, Malicious Intent, and Under Fire, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She loves writing swoon-worthy southern suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters by putting them into terrifying situations while she's sitting at home in her pajamas! She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Learn more at www.lynnhblackburn.com.