From Edie: Miriah Tavera helps writers discover why prayer should be part of every writing session and learn how inviting God into your writing process can bring greater peace, clarity, creativity, and purpose as a Christian author.
How to Invite God Into Your Writing Process as a Christian Author
by Miriah Taverna
We often run to God when making big, important life decisions, asking Him questions like who to marry, where to live, and what career to choose. But sometimes we miss the beautiful opportunity of coming to Him with the little, seemingly insignificant decisions.
I believe He wants to be part of it all. The good, the bad, the ugly. The massive and the minute. The exciting and the boring. And everything in between.
For Christians, prayer is not just a religious mandate, theological concept, or good idea, it’s a lifeline, and the very bedrock of our relationship with God. Prayer is one of the ways God shapes both us and the work He has called us to do.
What if we allowed prayer to shape our writing worlds as well? What if our chapters, characters, and concepts were all covered in prayer? And every stage of the writing process from dreaming to publishing was intentionally committed to God?
Writing for God vs. Writing with God
When I finally get to sit down and write, I want to be diligent. I want to be productive and make the most of my time. I admit, there have been times when I yield to the lie whispering, “you don’t have time to pray today.”
I open up my laptop and just dive right in without even consulting the Lord. But I’ve noticed on the days that I don’t prioritize spending time with Jesus, my writing time is more chaotic. My thoughts are frazzled. The energy around me is rushed and almost restless. But when I take even just a few minutes to pause and connect with the One who called me to write in the first place, everything shifts.
My time is fruitful. My thoughts are clear. His presence brings a tangible peace. Creative ideas and inspiration flow more freely. When we give Him our attention, it leads to connection. And from that place of connecting with Him, we bless Him, and invite Him to bless our writing.
How wonderful it is that we don’t just get to write for God, but we get to write with Him. We get to say “Hey Jesus, I know You’re here with me, and I need You. I need help. I need Your strength, Your knowledge, Your wisdom, Your focus. I can’t do this without You. I commit this time to you. I ask You to bless it, anoint it, and use it for Your glory.”
Time spent in God‘s presence is never time wasted. You won’t always have a perfect writing session. But God isn’t looking for perfection, He’s looking at our intention. And I often think He’s more concerned with the process He’s taking us through as we write than He is with the finished product of what we write.
Creating the Healthy Habit of Praying Before Writing
Luke 5:16 says “...Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to “pray without ceasing.” There is time spent in intentional, focused prayer and then there is the habit of praying at all times, being ever conscious of Emmanuel, God with us. Both types of prayer are important. Both are crucial for a healthy, Christian life.
When talking about creating the habit of praying before writing, I'm not referring to long, elaborate prayer sessions every time you open your laptop. (Although it's never a bad idea to slip away and spend some good quality time on your knees.)
But what I'm talking about is cultivating a lifestyle of inviting God into your work, from beginning to end. A simple moment in surrendered prayer can completely change the posture of your heart.
God longs to be invited into every moment of our lives, including our writing. Song of Solomon 4:9 says “you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes.” I imagine that each time we open our computers or notebooks, and glance toward heaven with Jesus in mind, His heart is captivated.
The more we are intentional in welcoming Him into each writing session, the more natural it becomes. The more we do it consistently, the more it becomes a habit. And over time, the habit of inviting Jesus into our writing will begin to shape our every word.
The Fruit of Writing With God
Have you ever picked up a book and sensed God’s presence as you held it? Or have you ever said “I feel like God wants me to read this book”?
You know how some books, when you’re finished reading them, leave you with a desire to seek God’s face? Or how some are sprinkled with little nuggets of truth pointing you to Jesus throughout the story?
Sure, some stories deeply impact us because the author is an amazing storyteller. But every now and then, you come across a book that seems to carry the fragrance of time spent with Jesus. You get the sense that it was saturated in prayer. Birthed in the secret place. Born from intimacy. A byproduct of abiding.
Ultimately, whether we write fiction or nonfiction, devotionals, or children's books, writing is a God-given gift that we can use to honor God and serve others. And all true service for God should flow from our intimacy with Him.
So, the next time you sit down to write, I encourage you to pause in His presence before you begin. Remember that attention leads to connection. Connect with Jesus, and invite Him into the process. It’s as sweet and simple as acknowledging that He's with you, then committing your writing time to Him and asking Him to direct your thoughts, guide your words, and glorify Himself.
These small moments of surrender could become one of the most life-giving habits you ever develop as a Christian writer.
TWEETABLE
After spending years lost in drug addiction, she encountered Jesus Christ in a hospital bathroom stall, and in an instant, He changed everything.
Now, her passion is to share Jesus with the world through writing, speaking, Bible teaching, and simply loving people right where they are. Her heart is to help inspire and equip others to deeply seek God for themselves and to boldly share their own stories for His glory. She also creates faith-based resources for aspiring Christian authors.
When she’s not reading, writing, or wrangling her three wild boys, you can find her on a treasure hunt at the local thrift store with an iced vanilla latte in hand. Connect with her at WWW.MIRIAHTAVERNA.COM or on social media.
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