From time to time, because I believe that prayer is the Christian writer’s first and most important task, I post on this blog a prayer that I’ve written and prayed for my writing. Some, however, are so short that they don’t lend themselves to the kind of superior quality I regularly achieve in my blog posts. (Okay, so I’ll pray for humility—happy now?)
So I thought today I would post four—that’s right, four!—short prayers for writers, prayers I keep handy and pray often. I include the titles I gave them in my prayer journal. If you like one or two (or more), feel free to adopt and/or adapt them to empower your own writing.
My Prayer Today
Gracious Lord,
my prayer for my writing
is for my writing to be my prayer.
Amen.
Ingenuity
Lord, save me from trusting
in myself,
in my ideas,
in my ingenuity.
Give me the gift of faith in you,
your ideas,
your ingenuity,
your voice,
your power,
your words,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
A Writer’s Senryu
Here I am alone
But not alone; you are here.
Speak in the silence.
Words Fitly Written
Lord,
grant that I may produce today
words fitly written,
that shine
like apples of gold
in settings of silver,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
A Few Edited Words
Bob, these are wonderful, and the senryu particularly touches my soul.
Not in terms of writing, but life itself.
Lord, I knew it could not last,
and know the reason why
the bright big world is brushing past
to leave me here to die.
There’s limit they can stand to see
before they turn away
from the mirror of the destiny
that will be theirs one day,
but You remain here by my side,
steadfast, kind, and true,
and in this place I put aside
the strength I always drew
from what had been my acted part
to rest my soul upon Your heart.
As I read your poem, Andrew, my soul rose up in praise, in joy, in sorrow. How completely grateful I am this world is not all there is! And that I will merrily meet you some sweet day in Glory!
Pam, thank you for this. It’s been the most trying week of the cancer journey, and most people need to turn away…and I understand this…
…but God.
Andrew,
This is beautiful and
heartbreaking if true.
My writing can wait another day
Today I pray for you.
Sy, it’s true, but it’s completely understandable. To look into the eyes of the doomed is like looking into one’s own abyss.
I could not have done it.
I am so grateful for your prayers!
Thank you, Mr. Hostetler, for these beautiful, heartfelt prayers.
Well said (and prayed!).
Thank you, Bob. These prayers made me think of the scripture, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart,” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. Meaningful writing begins on the “fleshly tables of the heart,” before it is written in ink.
Yes! Amen
Ah. Beautiful. Thank you.
Glory to God! Read and prayed them, too. Amen.
I love these. Thank you for sharing!
Needed this.
Thanks Bob.
Thank you, Bob! What a blessing! I will add these to my prayer prompts.
May God answer your prayers!
Love all of these prayers, Bob. I get a daily haiku text, and so the senryu is “especially special” to me. Thank you for sharing.
“In Your Time” remains my favorite of your prayers. I keep it on my desk. Thank you.
Thank you, Bob. I pray one of your prayers every day before writing. I’ll add these to my collection.
You had me at “My Prayer Today.”
THANK YOU.
Bob and Andrew – Thank you for yours and God’s beautiful words of wisdom.
Have a blessed weekend.
I try to be timely to the day reading this blog
more and more so the savoring is richer.
I rush to the comments to feel the fullness
of Andrew’ words. Today I gasp as they also are
what I understand yet said kindly.
Perhaps it should be part of a book’s collection.
Thanks for sharing, Bob. It’s been a rough week and I appreciate the thoughts you shared with us.
I love these. Thank you, Bob.
Thank you so much Bob!
You just inspired me to write my own Haiku prayer poems for the first time in my life!
May God bless you. Amen.