Many things will
distract you from writing your memoir, and they might even be good things. For
example, I just attended a women’s retreat and it was refreshing and inspiring.
I also stocked up on groceries, went to church, monitored coronavirus cases, emailed friends, spent a few hours with my
granddaughter, texted my kids, watched a Hallmark movie, and carried out the
inevitable cooking, dishwashing, cleaning, and laundry.
All good things. But
I didn’t do much writing.
When life gets busy,
busy, busy, let’s remember: Writing a memoir is a ministry. Like the Psalmist
said, “O God, let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let
them retell stories of your power” (Psalm 145:4). (See also Deuteronomy 4:9 and
Luke 8:39.)
Your stories can
shape the lives—including the spiritual lives—of your children, grandchildren,
great-grands, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, colleagues, and even people
you’ll never meet. Therefore, focus, exercise self-discipline, and manage your
time well. Figure out priorities. Maybe for a while writing can’t be a priority,
and that’s okay.
But because writing
your memoir is a ministry, make it a prayer priority.
“Make prayer your
first writing assignment every day,” Bob Hostetler says.
Lloyd John 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
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, Lloyd John Ogilvie)
Your family has
soul-sized issues today, and as new generations join your family, they, too,
will encounter soul-sized issues. God has a plan and purpose for you, a role to
play in your family.
As you carry out
that plan, God 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 the
lives of those around you, so today I share with you Marty Duane’s “The Writer’s Prayer,” a humble prayer for himself and for 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 all my sheaves,
They may not be
many, but they are Yours. . . .
You gave to me
this small talent of
writing,
and it is through
this talent
You have given my
heart a voice. . . .”
Take delight in what
God has put on your heart.
Recognize He has
given your heart a voice.
Focus. Be
single-minded. Pray. Write.
No comments:
Post a Comment