Prayer is powerful. It opens a barren womb, defeats an army, and heals a broken heart. Why? The receiver of our prayer is the King of the Universe—our Abba Father—the only one who can answer our prayer. So why don’t we pray more?
The book, Practicing the Presence, by Brother Lawrence, ignited a fire in my soul to strive for continual conscious contact with my Savior and pray about everything. This led to praying for others.
I fall short because my ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) has my mind chasing squirrels. I know some of you can relate. I’ve learned to teach and pray in acrostics.
Many of you have heard about the A.C.T.S. prayer. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. I’m not here to invent a new way to pray. Prayer is communicating with our Father. There is no right or wrong way to pray. God wants you to hear from us. He wants to hear from you.
The W.R.I.T.E prayer is another easy-to-learn acrostic format to commune with God, intercede for others, get inspired, and defy writer’s block.
As I use this prayer daily, my insecure attitude toward God, others, and writing changed. I am more confident of God’s work in and through me. I’ve seen the lives of my friends and colleagues change as I pray this prayer for them.
The W.R.I.T.E. Prayer-
W- Word of God
R- Readers/Receivers
I-Inspiration
T-Thanksgiving
E-Expectations
W- Word of God
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Do you need an attitude change?
Praying the Scriptures will reveal any indifference or anxiety keeping us from walking to the Spirit. If we approach writing with a selfish motive or fear, the Word will convict us and get us back on track. We pray the Word to release the forces of heaven to intercede, encourage, and equip us for the good work our Father has ordained for us. We will discuss the importance of God’s Word in the believer’s life. When we approach our keyboard, we desire an attitude that is ready to hear from God. Scripture also ignites ideas. Some example prayers:
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… Ephesians 3:16-20
R- Reader
My prayer is not for them alone. I also pray for those who will believe in me through their message, John 17:20 NIV
Jesus prayed for us. We pray for readers to be moved and changed by our writing. We include ourselves in prayer because we read what God inspires us to write. Jesus prayed the above prayer for us as we proclaim His message. We may never know the results of our offering until we get to heaven. We trust God for the outcome. After all, He knew who would read it before time began.
I-Inspiration
The Lord will guide you always; Isaiah 58:11 NIV
The inspiration God gives us can be the catalyst to encourage, educate, heal, or inspire others. God empowers us to write. He has ordained all our works, so He will guide us as we pen, type, or dictate words (Ephesians 2:11). He alone knows our needs and the needs of others. We can pray for inspiration throughout our day. God will lead us to events, conversations, and situations to ignite ideas.
T-Thanksgiving
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Writer’s block can leave us discouraged, our head in our hand desiring to pull our hair out. What can we do during our time of angst? Throw a block party with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank God for enabling us to write for His Kingdom. Thank Him for the friendships formed as a writer. Thank Him for writer’s block and take this time to worship Him. We are not blocked; we have an all-access pass to the throne room of God. The ultimate goal in life is not to complete our manuscript, article, or blog; our main aim is Jesus. In finding Him, our anxiety lifts. Time is never wasted acknowledging the one in whom we find purpose.
E-Expectantly
Call to me and I’ll answer you and will tell you about great and hidden things that you don’t know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Pray expecting great things from God. He called us to write so we should expect that He will tell us what to write. We expect ideas, agents, and publishing in His timing, not ours. We can’t give Him our expectations and ask Him to bless them, we must be in prayer to know what He desires from our writing. Expect Him to take your writing to places you never imagined.
The writing process is a spiritual journey God uses to sanctify us. Others receive a blessing through our writing, and God is glorified.
Whether we are fiction or nonfiction writers, God has a message and wants to use us as a conduit to proclaim it. And I know you’ll agree with me that it is indeed an honor and privilege it is to serve the King of the Universe and get to talk to Him any moment of the day!
