Abba, Father, Lord God,
thank you that I can type so fast,
that the Internet makes research relatively easy (if dangerous),
that I can work at home or in a coffee shop.
Thank you that I can send manuscripts and galleys via email,
that I can quickly search a document,
that I can access, order, and download books online.
Thank you that I can choose between screen and paper,
digital or analog,
old ways and new ways.
Thank you for the quiet of my home office,
the comfort of my chair,
the capacity of my desk,
the shelves of Bibles and other books nearby,
and for the vast choices of music I can tap into
to accompany and enliven my writing hours.
Thank you for the ability to scan and print,
to edit in hard copy or onscreen,
to sit or stand as I write.
Thank you for the “Do Not Disturb” function on my phone,
for the “Reminders” I can set,
and for the layers of tragedy-averting backup options that are available to me,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
A Big Giveaway for Writers at The Christian Writers Institute
So easy to take so much of this infrastructure for granted. Thanks, Bob!
I thank God for the modern days
in which we blessed live,
and sing a digi-hymn of praise
for all He chose to give
that took us from cheap paper reams
(do you remember these?),
and the flow of writing dreams
tripped up by tangled keys.
But I think I have to say
library time is missed,
a quiet musty research-day
while just outside rain hissed,
a sound that came not to intrude,
but rather helped to set the mood.
Amen. Thank you for this prayer. This is great to read before I begin a full day of writing.
Yes, yes, to all of these — and especially “the layers of tragedy-averting backup options that are available to me.” One snafu was enough to make me a believer way back in the days of floppy disks. 😉
And for Andrew, what a vivid and relatable word picture you shared with “the flow of writing dreams tripped up by tangled keys.” Thanks for that.
Amen! And, dear Lord, please let this pandemic end soon so that I CAN sit in a coffee shop to write! At least where I live, that hasn’t been an option now for nearly two years. How I miss it!
Hi, Bob (and dear writers),
Thank you for the details of blessings,Bob, we can so often overlook!
My writing prayer I enclose on the subject, written for Valentine Day this week. How vital the prayers are to our craft!
God’s Editing of Writers
This is not easy, Lord, and I ask You to help me when the writing is tough.
Then I ask again, and again, and again when waning enthusiasm is never enough.
Some say, “We are diamonds in the rough.”
I guess a lot depends on how much editing and polishing I allow You to make me shine, or how badly I want to keep my grime…and my yet unfinished rough draft.
Delete in Your processing my excess word or unkind line
and those things that contradict Your definition of me being your child.
Take my will and make it Thine to create days of beauty, prose, or rhyme.
Amen and amen. Thank you, Bob, for reminding us that we have much to be thankful for.
Amen!
Thanks to Bob for expressing what I’ve thought many times. I still have a sense of wonder about the technology that eases our work in so many ways.
Great prayer, Bob!
Writing is a battle, especially when one
Knows that the Holy Spirit is deeply involved in one’s writing to send a certain message to a certain audience!
I will definitely use your prayer as I stare at my screen!
I’m thankful to be living in such as time as this.
Yes! Amen.
Thanks Bob. Your group of agents are such a blessing to us writers who have discovered the Steve Laube Agency.
You folks Rock!
This was a timely reminder to be thankful for the things I take for granted.