Five Bible Verses For Christian Writers

Today I’m continuing my five year blog anniversary celebration by sharing five Bible verses with specific encouragement or relevance for Christian writers. 

When you wonder if your words matter…

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”  (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT)

This is a verse I refer to a lot in my work with children.  So often you have no idea how well they’re listening or how much is sinking in!  The same is true with writing.  We share our words, but often we have little idea who is reading them or what impact they are having.  I love how these verses encourage us that when we share God’s Word through our writing, he will use it and it will fulfil his purpose, even if we never get to see.

Choosing your words carefully…

“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT)

Words have power, so it is important to use them well.  This verse reminds me to think about who I’m writing to and what I’m sharing.  Some words that have to be written are better kept between ourselves and God while others are meant to be shared.  This verse provides some helpful questions to ask: Is it good?  Is it helpful?  Is it encouraging?

Keeping the right focus…

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord rather than for people.”  (Colossians 3:23 NLT)

Obviously we want people to like our writing.  It is amazing to receive a compliment or to know that someone has been encouraged or helped by our words, but this verse is a good reminder that our focus should be on God.  Ultimately we should be doing it for him.

Following God’s lead…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

As I said in Friday’s post, I have never had a clear plan for my writing.  Rather, it has been a question of taking one step at a time, following God.  There is freedom in committing our plans to him and letting him take the lead.

Developing your gift…

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received…Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone can see your progress.”  (1 Timothy 4:14-15 NLT)

I wrote a whole post on this recently, but in these verses Paul urges Timothy to develop the gift he has been given, to seek to grow in it, and to let others see his progress.  The same is true for writing.  We are only going to grow in it as we do it.  Progress, not perfection.

What about you?  If you’re a writer, which verses have been significant in your writing journey?  Feel free to share in the comments.

This post is part of a mini-series to celebrate the fifth anniversary of this blog.  Check out previous posts to discover the book that inspired me to get started, one of my favourite writing communities, and five books I’ve had the pleasure of contributing to over the last five years.  Join me tomorrow for the fifth and final post in the series.