As I was writing on the novel this past weekend, the Lord reminded me of how much I love writing with Him. He amazes me in how He puts His truth into the story, how He molds the characters through their hardships.
Watching these beloved characters come to an understanding of how God reveals Himself is just the most fun. I know that sounds odd since I’m the one writing the story and I’ve made these characters up. But I’m not the one doing the creating, the Lord is.
I’m only the hands that type the words. Even my own imagination is a gift from God. Because He made me to see pictures in my mind, because He formed me to love honorable characters; because He made me to long for people to love Him, He weaves Himself as the constant thread throughout the story. That is to His glory.
When someone reads our writing and says they see God in it, well, that’s the most wonderful thing a writer can hear. That’s what I meant last week when I said that we need to become invisible.
Learning to listen to His voice, His leading, we begin to hear the contrast between His writing and ours. Since I made the conscious choice to seek the Lord before I write, I’ve been able to feel when I start to interject myself into the writing. When I do that, the words are dead.
Only when the Lord writes is there life in the story or the work. When I write it, it’s as dry as dead leaves. It has no meaning, it has no pulse, and it has no depth. It is just a pile of words.
But when I am connected to the vine, The Vine, life runs through every word, shoots through every scene and soars above everything meaningless. Each time I read it I am filled with joy at what God has done.
I am happy to be the hands that type. These hands get to feel the living water flowing through them on their way to do the Father’s work. The process has nothing to do with me except that He allows me to be present when it happens.
So, how does one get there? How does one be present to receive, and then pass on the water to others? I honestly don’t know except that Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.”
I asked. I sought. I knocked. He is faithful. If He promises something, He will do it. Be certain of that. If you want the Lord to speak through your writing, ask Him.
Talk to other Godly writers who have experienced it. Read Godly writing. Knock on the door and ask the Lord to let you into that place where He will write through you.
Believe that He will do it and then take joy in the presence of the Lord. Thank Him for His kindness to you and then rejoice again. He wants to share this with you and He wants you to know how great His love for you is.
After all, you the writer, are one of His beloved characters.
Phyllis Keels
The Gifted Writer 