A Christian Blogger’s Desire [How to Pray for Me]
![4266114980 a0e376d7c1 A Christian Bloggers Desire [How to Pray for Me]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4266114980_a0e376d7c1.jpg "Writing")
I ran across a Puritan prayer I had arbitrarily used as a bookmark. The prayer is called, “A Minister’s Preaching,” taken from Valley of Vision.
I adapted the prayer for preachers into a prayer for writers so I could pray it for myself and a few blogger friends of mine, Demian Farnworth, Don Dudley, and Jonathan Woodward.
This prayer captures my heart’s desire when I write…or at least what it ought to be. It also expresses in Puritan language what I pray God accomplishes through my writing.
The Puritan prayer doesn’t directly cover some specifics though. For example, I’d like this blog to have a clearly defined and specifically targeted mission, and sometimes that’s lacking. I also hope one day this blog might be a means God uses to connect me with a full time job, a book writing deal, or some other opportunity to serve God with what He gives me just as I try to do where I am now.
That’s the stuff I pray for. And Don Duddley over at You See Dry Bones prays for similar things. And I would love to have you join with me in prayer. Would you bring these requests before your church, small group, family, or where ever else you gather to pray?
A Writer’s Prayer
My Master God,
I desire to write today,
but go weak and needy to my task;
Yet I long that people might be edified
with divine truth,
that an honest testimony might be borne
for thee;
Give me assistance in writing and prayer,
with heart uplifted for grace and unction.
Present to my view things pertinent to
my subject,
with fullness of matter and clarity of thought,
proper expressions, fluency, fervency,
a feeling sense of the things I write,
and grace to apply them to men’s consciences.
Keep me conscious all the while of my defects,
and let me not gloat in pride over
my performance.
Help me to offer a testimony for thyself,
and to leave sinners inexcusable in neglecting
thy mercy.
Give me freedom to open the sorrows of thy people,
and to set before them comforting considerations.
Attend with power the truth written,
and awaken the attention of slothful readers.
May thy people be refreshed, melted, convicted, comforted,
and help me to use the strongest arguments
drawn from Christ’s incarnation and sufferings
that men might be made holy.
I myself need thy support, comfort, strength, holiness,
that I might be a pure channel of thy grace,
and be able to do something for thee;
Give me then refreshment among thy people,
and help me not to treat excellent matter
in a defective way,
or bear a broken testimony to so worthy
a Redeemer,
or be harsh in treating of Christ’s death,
its design and end,
from lack of warmth and fervency.
And keep me in tune with thee
as I do this work.
Enjoy this post? Subscribe to blog updates via email or via RSS
Related posts:
- Watch and Pray as the Devil Prowls
- 5 Tough Quotes on Prayerless Christians
- Worry is a Symptom, Not a Sickness
That’s a mighty fine prayer. I truly hope God grants your desire in this matter. I, too, share the desire to write books. Actually, I’m working on one right now, and have another that I have started. Let us pray for God’s favor on us, and while waiting His good response (what ever it may be), let us plan, pursue, and purpose ourselves to this endeavor of Kingdom work.
Thanks for your prayers, brother. They mean so much.
Hi Daniel,
I would be glad to join in praying these specific prayers for you! Very often, I spend time in prayer for you and other bloggers I’ve “met”. Just last night, I was reading Eric Ludy’s recent book Wrestling Prayer and something reminded me of some of the things you have written about prayer recently, so I took a moment to write your name in the margin and pray for you and your ministry.
For several reasons, I’ve also been praying over my own blog, and praying that my writing will always be guided by God and pleasing to Him. I’ve been working on a post about these things; I’d like to include a link to this post of yous if you don’t mind.
Witnessing all of these related issues coming together at the same time just amazes me all over again at how God works, teaches us, and glorifies Himself. Absolutely amazing!
Ruth
Hey Daniel,
I would be glad to join in these specific prayers for you. I often pray for the bloggers I’ve “met.” Actually just last night, I was reading Eric Ludy’s recent book _Wrestling Prayer_ and ran across a passage that reminded me of some of the things you have written about, so I took a moment to write your name in the margin and pray for you and your ministry.
For several reasons, I have been praying over my own blog, asking God to always direct me to please and glorify Him with what I write and my reasons/attitudes in writing, so the prayer you included here really resonates with me. I’d like to include a link to this post in my next one if you don’t mind.
Witnessing how all these questions and blogs/books came to me at once, I’m amazed all over again at how God works and teaches us! Absolutely amazing…and an answer to prayer!
Ruth
Like I said over at Don’s place, absolutely love it.
http://www.youseedrybones.com/just-some-dreaming/
What is the subject of your book(s)?
Ruth, I’m honored by your prayers and whatever links you might use. May the Lord bless you as you write.
A lot of what goes on here has been influenced by you. You’ve been a teacher often, bringing me along forward with you. I wish I had a documentary screenshot of the first version of my blog from a couple years ago.
One is Mission of God, and the other is on the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
That comment wasn’t supposed to be there.