Thursday, January 10, 2013

Duane Scott’s “A Writer’s Prayer”


Let’s begin this new year with focus. Single-mindedness.

Break through the chaos, the clutter, the distractions—and maybe even the flu bugs—of the past holiday season.

Focus. Re-focus. Keep in mind why you are writing your memoir.

It is not a hobby. It is a ministry: Remind yourself of Deuteronomy 4:9 in this blog’s header.

Writing your memoir is a ministry: Your stories can shape lives—including the spiritual lives—of your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and other readers.

Because writing your memoir is a ministry, make it a prayer priority.

Lloyd Ogilvie acknowledged that in his ministry he faced “soul-sized issues,” so he prayed,

“Sovereign Father,… You have given me … an imagination able to envision Your plan and purpose for me, and a will ready to do Your will.

“… I know you will go before me to show me the way, behind me to press me forward, beside me to give me courage, above me to protect me, and within me to give me wisdom and discernment.” (Quiet Moments With God; emphasis mine)

Your family has soul-sized issues today and, as new generations join your family, they, too, will have soul-sized issues. God has a plan and purpose for you, a role to play in your family.

As you carry it out, He will go before you, behind you, beside you, above you, and within you. You can count on Him!

You probably have no idea just how much God can use your stories to impact soul-sized issues in your family’s future generations, so today I share with you Duane Scott’s prayer, a humble prayer for himself and all writers:

Dear Author,
Today, the words I use, let them be Your words.
Words of Hope, of Love, of Faith.
Allow me, with trembling hands, to be Your voice.…
Let me never forget, the words I write today,
May change the life of one, maybe two.
But as the Psalmist says, I bring You my sheaves,
They may not be many, but they are Yours.…
(Click here to continue reading Duane’s The Writer’s Prayer)


Focus! Be single-minded! Pray! Write!





6 comments:

  1. This is super -packed with encouragement, thanks so much. Susie

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    1. Susie, I'm thankful you found encouragement here. I love the way your blog post of yesterday fits so well with this one here -- yours captures our first priority, mine captures the overflow the results from focusing on that first priority.

      Blessings in 2013!
      Linda

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  2. Oh Linda, this is perfect and beautiful. Just what I needed. You have a way of delivering the messages that count. I'm copying this and hanging it in my writing area for ongoing encouragement and guidance. Thank you so much. Blessings and Hugs, Kathy

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    1. Hi, Kathy, I am humbled to think that anything I write could be helpful but if God uses these words, then I am delighted. My prayers have been answered.

      The mountains and sea in the Psalms illustration is the view from my in-laws' front window, the scenery I grew up with: The Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. :)

      Linda

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  3. Once again, I feel as if you're an angel sitting on my shoulder, whispering just the message I need to hear. Thank you!

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    1. Oh, Cathy, I'm delighted if you found some encouragement in this post. I prayed a lot about what to post. In fact I had a different post prepared and decided to publish this one instead. May God keep you focused and excited about all He has planned for you!

      Linda

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