Why prayer should be a step in your writing process

What does your writing process look like?

99% of people I've spoken to do one of two processes.

1. They write an outline, write the article from that outline, and then edit it including rearranging or adding more points after that.
2. They meditate on a topic for days, maybe making a few notes here and there with possibly something that might look like an outline. Eventually, they put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) but don't look at anything they noted down. Everything flows in one sitting with maybe a brief edit for typos after.

But one of the members of the Gospel Centered Discipleship Writer's guild highlighted another step that I've often neglected.

Prayer.

Selfish vs selfless writing

Writing can be a selfish or selfless act.

We may crave recognition or acclaim. So we embellish the truth to make us look better or use curated humility to create a sense of "authenticity". We might even pick sensationalised fights just to stand out or grow our following.

We justify it all as "making sure we get our message across" or "using modern writing/marketing techniques".

Or, we can write to help others, seek to understand ourselves and out of a calling God has placed on our lives. As stewards of that calling, we seek to communicate effectively with clear prose that cuts through all the noise online.

The difference between our actions can be tiny. But the difference in our hearts is huge.

A heart check before writing

It’s possible to pray with bad intentions.

I’ll admit, I’ve come to God with an attitude of “Here’s my plans, bless them, this is what I’m doing. If you don’t make it go right, I’ll be upset and doubt you.”

Yeah, not good I know.

And while I’m still not perfect and can fall into that trap. I more often come with an attitude of listening and wanting to know what God wants.

Instead of saying “This is what I’m doing”, I approach with “This is my plan as it seems right to me. Please guide me. If it’s not right, guide me in the right direction.”

It makes it a lot easier to accept the outcomes of my writing, no matter what happens.

Surrendering our writing to God

Prayer is a silent surrendering of everything to God. — Soren Kierkegaard

Ultimately, whatever our calling is, we are to surrender our lives and actions to God. That may mean we see incredible fruit and results such as millions of readers and all that goes along with “success” but it may not. It may mean mere obedience: faithfully pursuing a calling that touches a few people close to us, but no further.

When we surrender our actions to God, we are okay with either eventuality and every path in between.

Not just for writers

There’s a lesson even if you aren’t a writer.

We should still bring all our ideas, plans and dreams to God. Not with an attitude of getting his blessing for our success, but to be guided into the right path.

I pray God will guide you to the right path forward.