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We all know there’s no more wonderful task than being a writer in God’s kingdom. It’s something we love and delight in. But it goes so much deeper than we often realize. It’s a task overflowing with hidden gifts…gifts that, when we recognize and embrace them, can enrich our real-world lives and relationships.
The Hidden Gifts of Writing
- We live with a heightened awareness of what’s around us.
- Writers are observers. We see and hear things many others don’t. We see the nuances in people’s expressions and body language. We see the beauty around us in deeper and more impactful ways than others do. We are PRESENT in our study of human nature and nature itself. We can use that to also be present in our surroundings and our relationships, to gain a powerful sense of what this world and this life is really about.
- “Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17. Use this gift to really SEE.
- We have a strong awareness of God’s involvement in what we do, say, and write.
- Did you ever go back and look at something you wrote and wonder how in the world you wrote that? And you KNOW it was God. Don’t miss the blessing there. Seeing God at work is priceless.
- How often did the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Jesus’ time ask Him to give them a sign? But the signs were there. The lame walked, the blind could see, the deaf received their hearing, dead people came back to life. There were plenty of signs. The Pharisees just missed them. There was no appreciation, no gratitude. Gratitude changes us. It makes us glorify God and see Him for who He is, for how great He is. It give us proper humility, and that enriches us.
- Do you want a sign that God is in this writing thing with you? God gives that to you in the miracle of your words. Or maybe in that one person who tells you what you wrote made a difference. God takes your words and does something supernatural with them.
- We have the best training camp possible.
- Writing makes you develop muscles and automatic responses for walking in submission, trust, and obedience, and for enduring when things get hard.
- Submission: We’re trained, over and over, to lay our goals and desires on the altar and seek HIS goals.
- Obedience: We do what He asks us to, knowing the results are up to Him.
- Endurance: We don’t quit when things get difficult. We turn to Him to sustain and support us.
- Trust: We learn to take one step at a time without having to know what’s down the road.
- We get to be imitators of God in the act of creation.
- Genesis 1:1-3 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” This is God’s first recorded act. The first words of God’s story to us. He created. And we’re part of His creation. He made us in His image.
- God says, “Let there be light,” and through His work in us, we create stories that shine light too.
- God brought order out of chaos. Our first drafts make feel formless and empty, but we as co-creators can bring order to that chaos in our imitation of God
- We are God’s image bearers when we act as creators.
- We have highly developed listening skills.
- We learn how to be still and listen for Him. For His leading, for His encouragement. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know…”
- We can take these skills and apply them to those around us as well. Our friends and family, even our readers. We can study real people like we do our characters. We can understand their motivations and wounds and personalities, which helps us be more loving and compassionate.
- NOTHING in a writer’s life is ever wasted!
- Every experience, every joy and pain, every tear and giggle, every delight and tragedy, every broken bone, every sleepless night…they all become part of the life experiences that inform our books and, as a result, minister to our readers.
- Every word you write becomes part of your craft journey. Even if they’re terrible words, they’re practice. Every word is practice, which contributes to your growth as a writer.
- You get to do something you’re passionate about.
- Many people in this world have no goals, no passion, no inspiration. Your passion for this task is a gift because it give you purpose.
- Maybe writing is your day job, or maybe it’s just a little piece of your day or week or month. But whatever it is, it’s something you care deeply about. That’s a gift. You care about the message God has given you be it something you wrote in your journal, in a novel, devotional, memoir, or a note to a friend. You care about the characters you create. You care for your readers.
We encourage you today to open your mind and heart to the gifts God has hidden for you in this task of writing. To cherish them and let them help you see God, and His creation, more clearly, and to reflect Him more passionately in your writing, but even more in your life and relationships.
We want to hear from you!
What hidden gift have you discovered in writing?
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There are wondrous gifts hidden for you in the writing life!