Recently, I came to realize that I tend to compartmentalize. I like to keep God in His box, and I like to keep writing in its own little box, far away from God.

I’m not saying I’ve written things that are graphically sinful, completely unwholesome, and rife with heresy because I haven’t. I just tend to be buddy-buddy with God during my devotions and talk with Him some throughout the day, but when I light my writing candle, I tend to shut everything out. Including God. I’m not so much, “God, don’t interfere with my writing!” as I am “You can go away now.” Both are bad.

Anyway, I’ve thought up some ways to bring God into my writing. Or rather, bring my writing into God. I don’t want to write just stories. I want my writing to be a reflection of my love for God. I want my writing to glorify Him. I want Him to use my writing to turn hearts to the Truth.

So, here are three ways to glorify God in your writing.

Pray before you write.

This is the time when you’ve got your notebook, maps, and all other supplies. You’ve lit your writing candle, and the blank page blinks at you.
Stop and pray. It doesn’t have to be long (it can be though, if you want it). It’s just bowing your head and having some words with the Creator the universe. There’s lots you can say. Lots you can ask.

Thank Him for the gift of writing. He’s the one that gave it to you.

Thank Him for your creativity. He’s the one that built you with it.

Thank Him for the sunshine (or the starlight).

Ask Him to guide you as you write.

Ask Him to help you with a troublesome plot point.

Ask Him to help you glorify Him.

Pray that He will enjoy the time writing with you.

Pray that it will be a sweet time of fellowship.

Basically, invite Him into your writing time. If there’s some sin that’s come between you and Him, confess it. Your writing won’t glorify Him much if you aren’t in communion with Him. If you want your writing to truly be an offering to Him, a sweet fragrance to Him, you need to start with Him.

So, take two minutes before you start scratching away at the page or plucking away at the keys, and talk with God.

Read Scripture before you write.

If you have a key verse or Scripture passage that inspires your writing, read it a couple times. It can be for your writing as a whole or your WIP.

I understand not all writing projects will have a key verse, but I encourage you to find one that reflects one of your main themes. And for writing as a whole (for life as whole, actually) I encourage you to pick a verse (or verses) that is your anthem.

For instance, my verse for writing as a whole is 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I want the glory of God to be the goal of my writing. I want to write to glorify Him. So I decided that 1 Corinthians 10:31 would be my writing verse.

An example of a specific project verse is Matthew 5:14-16 which says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before other, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven.” This is my primary passage for Flickering Lights.

Once you have your verse(s), read it before you write. Put it on an index card or write it in your notebook. Keep it somewhere accessible, and read it before you write. It doesn’t have to be aloud, but really think about the words. You’ll have it memorized soon enough.

This isn’t supposed to be some ritual to empower your writing. It’s supposed to turn your heart to God and let Him move in your writing.

Write for God, not yourself.

So much, I hear the advice, “Write for yourself! When you stop relying on other people for your motivation to write, that’s when you write more. That’s when you’ll stay true to yourself.”

I say no.

Write for God.

That’s when you’ll stay true to Him because honestly, this isn’t about you. At least it shouldn’t be. If you truly want to glorify Him, your writing (and everything else you have, for that matter) will be about Him and for Him. When He’s your inspiration and motivation, you will glorify Him.

There you have it!

These aren’t tricks or guarantees. But I’ve been using them for a few weeks now, and it has changed my mindset on writing. I hope that these ideas/practices are as helpful to you as they have been to me.

What are some of the ways you work to glorify God in your writing?