Gracious God, who inspired faulty and feeble people in times past to write for the purpose of changing lives, please let some of that spirit–a double portion, even, as I am faultier and feebler than they were—rest on me as a writer.
Grant me the productivity of Moses, who though he lived in an age before paper or press is credited with “the books of Moses,” revered as Torah by one generation after another.
Grant me David’s lyricism and imagery evident in line after line of psalm after psalm, from “The Lord is my shepherd” to “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Grant me Isaiah’s facility with word and phrase, he who wrote “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” and “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Grant me Solomon’s wisdom, Ezekiel’s vision, Jeremiah’s compulsion, and Daniel’s spine.
Grant me Hosea’s courage in telling my story, and in obeying and reflecting you in its every twist and turn.
Grant me the Gospel writers’ recall. Luke’s accuracy. Paul’s intensity. James’s practicality.
And grant, please, whenever my end approaches, whatever my final book or sentence may be, a finish like that of your servant John the Revelator.
All this I am so bold to ask only through the merit of my Savior, Lord, and King, in whose name I ask it, amen.
057 Why Platform is Not Important Like You Think
Thank you for this bold prayer. Just this morning I was reminded, pointedly, to “keep on seeking, knocking, asking.”
Amen! ? What a wonderful example of writers we have in our legacy.
Amen, well said. Thank you, Bob.
Beautiful.
Bob,
You have an amazing spiritual gift in this area of writing these bold prayers. I prayed your words this morning and believe I should be saying this prayer often. Thank you.
Terry
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I really needed this. Than you!!!
Beautiful, thank you! And it arrived in my inbox on the day when my morning reflection verse was Isaiah 61:7…
“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.”
Boy howdy to every word! What a privilege we have to go before the throne with so bold a petition. What joy to know it is heard by an Almighty ear.
Printing this out to begin every writing session with.
Selah. And amen.
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed as I start my day’s journaling, writing, caregiving, & household tasks.
A beautiful, bold and moving prayer, Bob, which will deservedly be placed on many writing-space walls and in even more hearts.
If I may offer a prayer of my own, these are dreadful days, but I still don’t know how to spell ‘surindar’, and own no white flags.
Lord, enlarge my territory,
Lord, enlarge my will
as this fell malignancy
positions for the kill.
As my voice is stolen,
as my breath comes dear,
may Thee my words embolden,
may Thee make the message clear
that this is for Thy glory,
a sacrifice to grace,
and let my final story
be the quest to see Thy Face.
Let me witnes through the pain
that in my dseath, there’s only gain.
And sorry for the obvious idiot typos!
I continue to pray for you daily, my weary friend. You have run your race well; your words will also grace walls with remembrance and encouragement. Thank you for the beauty and courage of all your poetry. In Christ’s love.
Both of these prayers are a great ministry. Thank you for so beautifully focusing my eyes and heart on the message of the truth-tellers of Scripture. Andrew, I don’t know if introductions will be necessary in Heaven, but I look forward to meeting you there.
Rom. 12:12
Andrew, typos or not, your prayer (it rhymes and everything!) one-ups my effort. Especially written as it is in and through such pain and struggle.
Andrew, I love your spirit. It simply soars, even if the body is earthbound.
Blessings on your day, my friend.
Thank you, Andrew for your prayer. For sharing your thoughts, prayers, and being so real. You are blessing and inspiration to express what is really inside. Praying for you.
Amen. Thank you.
Amen and amen. Thank you.
Looks like you covered about everything. What an inspirational piece. Thanks!
Amen! Thank you, Bob.
Amen.
I love this so much!!
Amen!
This post is fantastic. I am going to see if I can copy and print it so place before me on my bulletin board beside my computer. VERY LOVELY>
Amen!!!
For my writing career: I receive this prayer, in Jesus Name!!!
Now that’s a keeper. Wonderful! Amen and so be it.
Thank you for this beautiful prayer. May the Lord fulfill this prayer in those who pray it. Many blessings, Karen
With tears in my eyes, I add my, “Amen!”
Thank you for this post. I normally don’t comment but I loved this prayer. I never thought to remember these writers this way. It will guide me in the future. Thanks again.
Thank you – thank you for publishing this prayer. I wept through its eloquent message. The essence of my heart is to be led and blessed by our Father God, and to bring glory to His name in my writing and my life.
Wow, what a powerful prayer. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Bob for sharing it with us.
Bob, thank you. Will be printing and posting in my office at home. You spoke my heart more eloquently than I ever could.
Just returned from Torah study to read your wonderful prayer. Thank you.
this brought me to tears.
WOW! And thank you!
This is beautiful! What a prayer.
I pray that my stories are glimpses–small and feeble though they be–of God’s awesome glory. ?
I needed that as I finished Moondreams and will prepare it as a book proposal. Thanks for sharing.
This is great, Bob!
Thanks, Steve. I shared your blog post on social media. My response was initially caught between a shout of “Amen!” and a concern of presuming to ask for so much. I chose the Amen.
Blessings,
Lynn
Yes and amen. Thanks, Bob. Very timely as I start a new project!
This is wonderful–thanks so much!
What an awesome Word. Thank You! It sure jogs the memory and brings about such recall.
I am always amazed at God’s timing in how he can suddenly address your heart on any matter when he so chooses to do it. It’s like he comes before you in silence, and yet, speaks as loud as thunder if only you are listening.
As a writer, it’s a place where the reverberation of all that He is, and all that we are, merge as ONE. If He should speak to you in this “suddenly” moment, pause and listen well. He will lead the way at precisely the right moment in time. WE must wait on Him.
Know that the path has already been carved out and the walkway has been cleared even though you can’t see where it goes to. This is the crossroad where His path intercepts yours. It is where the King stands before you and commands you to write, and it will take precedence above all other things. You will know it when this time has arrived. It is your assignment.
He is the Master and you, His Scribe. He breathes, and YOU listen. It is in this place where you will begin your own special and sacred journey with Him. This is the road less traveled by many but also the one that will lead to your Double Portion.
I heard the Lord say, Psalm 45:1
“My heart is stirred by a noble theme
As I recite my verses for the King;
My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
(Psalm 45:1)
What a moving prayer and encouragement for us writers to aim for. Thanks!
No truer words were ever written. Thank you for this inspiring blog.
Amen, and Amen! I’m Austin author Carol Middlekauff. My husband and I have been sharing Jesus for the past 20 years. My book, “Take Someone with You to Heaven,” tells stories of sharing Jesus in jails, on the running trail, in NYC, etc., to help Christians who are chicken to share Jesus. Most Christians haven’t shared their faith because they don’t know how that would go, and are afraid to start. The stories in my book encourage and challenge them to get over that fear and just share the gospel of Jesus Christ as they go along.
The Amazon website allows you to “look inside.”
Love this. Printing and posting in my work space to remind me above all else, PRAY through it from start to finish.