8 Prayers to Strengthen Your Writing Life

Sitting down day after day to put words to a page.

Daring to expose vulnerable thoughts and revealing stories.

Fighting your inner critic.

Writing a book is arduous work.

Oh, and throw in some spiritual warfare and you wonder why any of us do this.

Some people–ourselves included on some days–may think we’re crazy for writing. But I think we come back to the keyboard over and over again because we know what’s on the other side.

Not only are we impacting others, but we change too. In time, we look more like Christ because we’re writers.

Writing sanctifies us, forces us to rely on God more, to seek him more in prayer.

Over the last few months, I’ve written a few prayers for my friends over on Instagram and this post is the one stop shop to get them all.

Scroll to whatever applies to you and pray. Then write it down and pray again the next time you’re in the same spot!

1. A prayer for those of us who get distracted easily

Father God, help! It’s so noisy out there. Between Instagram and Netflix shows, text messages and forgotten laundry, we are prone to wander. Not only from the one we love but also from the work set before us.

Will you give us discipline to get our butts in the chair and write?

Will you give us courage to face whatever fear might be getting in the way?

Will you reignite passion if we’ve lost it?

Help us to not make idols out of productivity. But seek diligence out of a faithful heart.

And grace for the days when Instagram sucks us in.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

2. A prayer for those debating self vs traditional publishing

Father God, you’ve promised that you’ll give us wisdom when we ask for it. So here I am, asking for wisdom to decide what route. Will you give me clarity on either self or traditional publishing?

You’ve gotten me through difficult seasons and impossible situations, and I want to share your hope with others. Will you show me the best way to do that?

And if not clarity, will you give me courage? Courage to move and trust you with the next step, then the next one, then the next one. Help me to remember why I’m doing this in the first place.

Keep my eyes fixed on you and trust you with the results. Help me to remember that faithfulness is the goal, no matter the outcome.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

3. A prayer before you hit publish

Here are my words, Lord. Take them and do what you will.

Use them to encourage, challenge, spread the hope of Christ.

Help me to think right thoughts afterwards, to not focus on self and views and comments and shares. But to focus on you and the one you’ve asked me to serve. And give me the words, margin, and courage to keep writing.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

4. A prayer for when you stop writing

Lord, I was going strong but stopped. Will you help me?

Will you give me wisdom to know why, grace for hard seasons, and courage to pick it up again?

And above all, will you help me not to write from selfish ambition but a pure heart to serve?

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

5. A prayer for focus (this summer)

Lord, you are the God of all seasons. You ask for both rest and work from your people.

So this summer, as my schedule relaxes and kids are home, will you help me find that balance?

Give me focus on the work before me while also enjoying the sweet summer season.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

6. A prayer for the momma short on time this summer

Father God, first thank you for these children. They are a joy and a gift.

And caring for them often means dying to self, dying to plans.

So will you help me this summer, as the temperatures sizzle and toddlers grow restless, to find new rhythms, greater flexibility?

I can bring these writing dreams and hopes to you and lay them down knowing that only you can make them happen anyway.

Give me creativity to find new pockets of time. Give me boundaries to say no to the right things. Give me endurance for the days filled with screaming “no”s and spilled cheerios.

And above all, give me more of you as I navigate the sweet (and sometimes) overwhelming blessings of both motherhood and a desire to write.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

7. A prayer for when you hate social media and want to throw it all away

Help me, Lord! I know the dangers of social media, its addictive nature, its ability to provoke jealousy and comparison, its time-sucking endless scroll. But I also know its potential too.

I know it can encourage others as I’ve been encouraged through these little squares. I know it’s a free, creative outlet to reach thousands for your name. I know there’s been no other evangelism tool like it before.

So give me wisdom, God. Help me be receptive to your Spirit’s guidance, whether to stay on here or to leave. Give me resounding clarity on its role in my life and writing.

Help me scroll, post, write captions with wisdom and grace, to be as innocent as a dove and as shrewd as a snake.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

8. A prayer for those of us who feel jealous in this writing life

Lord, will you help me be content?

When my friends are getting book deals and I’m just struggling to find the time to write. When I’m tempted to desire money and fame over a life of faithful service. When I feel like a failure because no one liked or commented on a post.

Will you help me celebrate her success even when I don’t feel successful? Will you grow my joy in my current situation? Will you help me be content even if I never get recognized as an author or my work goes unnoticed?

Cultivating this gift is hard, Lord. But at the end of it all, will you help me find the intersection of ambition and contentment that makes the most of you?

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Action Steps:

Now it’s your turn, friend. What prayers resonated the most with you? Write down 1-2 and put it on your computer or in your journal. Pray it frequently!