One thing I started doing this year is creating a prayer list for all my writing and editing projects. I try to pray daily that the words I write on the projects I am given would glorify God. I also have a list of authors that I have helped, and I pray over their books that God would use their voice and message to touch many lives.
As a writer, it’s really easy to get wrapped up in my own identity. I tend to focus on my weaknesses and insecurities, and I begin to strive in unhealthy ways. But then I remember that God has called me to be a Christian writer. That title holds significance. I want to write and edit words that glorify God. It’s Christ in me that guides my words and my edits. Now, the pressure is not completely off. I fail at times. I struggle with words, grammar, and my confidence. But prayer is the thing that always helps me to correct course. It’s what fuels my title as a writer. I am to strive to glorify Him. That is the measure of success as a Christian writer. It’s really the measure of success as a Christian in any profession.
C.S. Lewis is noted as saying, “What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects – with their Christianity latent.” Apparently, he said this five years before he published his Narnia series.
I tend to think C.S. Lewis understood that, as Christians, we are guided by prayer in what we write. It’s not always about our writing skills, but in the One who gives us the words to write. In our AI technology-driven world, there is a whole realm of opinions in the writing profession. It’s confusing and a bit depressing. In the midst of it all, I am holding a little tighter to the power of prayer and being a follower of Christ as a writer and editor.
I am hopeful that there is still a whole world of great literature yet to be written by Christian writers. I pray God guides those authors and their words. And if, by chance, I get to be a part of that project, I pray that God will use me not because I am a Christian writer, but that Christ may be glorified through me.
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