Praying over our writing - By Natasha Woodcraft

Do you pray over your writing? Or pray before you write? Perhaps you don’t feel like writing is a spiritual exercise for you, because you write into the secular market or your writing is just for fun, or to wind down. Perhaps you suffer from imposter syndrome – my writing is so unimportant, why would God care about my writing?

Janet Wilson at Write for a Reason first encouraged me to pray before writing about two years ago. My work has always been a bit like a spiritual conversation with God, but I’m not sure I was ever very intentional about building prayer into my prewriting routine before that. Yet, I always felt like it would be nice if my words were not just for this moment, this culture, this time, but were something eternal. I expect we all long for that!

This week, I downloaded a super little book by the same people that ran the Kingdom Writers prayer conference in July that I shared on the ACW page. I hope some of you got to attend online. One of the prayers in the book contains these words….

“Give me the strength I need this day in order to write the words that outlive me.”

CJ & Shelley Hitz

21 Prayers for Writers: Praying God’s word over your writing. 

This really resonates with me and I now intend to build this prayer into my routine. Because what I’ve found, and I know many Christian writers I’ve spoken to have experienced the same, is that when you are preparing for something big, a new book idea, a book launch, a festival, an interview, when you really want God to partner with you for those moments, is when Satan always attacks and pulls you down, filling your days with everything possible to distract you, telling you you’re not good enough and everyone is going to hate your book. And when we’re run off our feet and feeling hopeless is when we most need to stop & recollect what we’re doing this for. To put on the full armour of God and battle back with prayer.

If you’re doing X because you love writing and it helps you wind down – own that! Tell Satan you don’t care, you’ve enjoyed the process anyway. Praise God for the joy it gives you.

If you’re doing it because it’s your income then 1) I envy you (joking) and 2) tell Satan you know your God provides. Thank God for what he has provided!

And if you’re doing it because you want your words to outlive you, then saturate your writing with Kingdom values & truths. Write for the Kingdom of God, the everlasting kingdom, that will never perish, spoil or fade.

What a privilege we have to be able to do this. Don’t let the lies get you down. Pray over your writing & claim his promises for you. 

Perhaps you’re new to ACW, you’re just dipping your toes in the water, wondering if writing is for you. Perhaps you wonder whether you’ll ever be able to write anything good enough to outlive you? My friend, you are in good company! Most of us live with that feeling. 

A couple of weekends ago, I had the immense privilege of attending Book Blest. Having moved house 3 weeks before the festival, I hadn’t prepped anything from lack of time. The night I arrived I had to sit there, open my hands to heaven and just ask Him for the words. Sure, I know my books. But I didn’t know what to share. As I held out my hands, Spotify selected the song ‘Gratitude’ by Brandon Lake, which contains the lyrics: 

‘I throw up my hands and praise you again and again, 

coz all that I have is a Hallelujah, Hallelujah. 

I know it’s not much, but I’ve nothing else for for a king. 

Except for a heart singing Hallelujah, Hallelujah.’ 

It struck me afresh how that's all God requires of us - a willingness to praise him. Often I feel like I’ve nothing fit for a king. But I do have a Hallelujah. And if I can offer that, then I’m half way there. 

So if you feel stuck, inadequate, or disillusioned today, don’t let those lies hold you back from writing your Hallelujah – whatever that looks like. Whatever God has called you to do, he will equip you for. And by the way, if you’re here right now, interacting with ACW, you’re starting in a pretty good place. 

Natasha Woodcraft lives in Lincolnshire with her husband, 4 sons, a spotty dog, 2 kittens, a misunderstood bunny and some much maligned fish. She believes stories have power to communicate deep truth and transform lives. Her published novels, The Wanderer Scorned & The Wanderer Reborn, explore God’s redemptive purposes for messy people by reimagining the tale of Cain & Abel. Also a songwriter, Natasha peppers her emotional prose with poetry and song.