On Starting a New Book

Abba, Father,
thank you for the work you have given me to do,
for what I am about to write.
I begin in fear and trembling,
not at all sure that I can start well, let alone finish well.
But your grace is sufficient for me,
in writing as in all of life,
for your strength is made perfect
in my weakness.
Take my weakness, all of it.
I give it to you.
Take my strength,
what little I have.
Take my mind, my voice, my fingers, my keyboard,
my thought processes and nerve impulses
and combine them all to produce something of value
for those who will someday read what I am about to write.
Let your sanctified creativity flow through me,
body and soul,
and let me remember at day’s end
to give you thanks for every mercy and grace I experience
in the writing process,
in Jesus' name, amen.

4 comments:

Marylane Wade Koch said...

Wow! This was exactly what I needed today. Although I am not starting a book, I am writing other work. I have posted your link on Write Life Workshops' Facebook and Twitter as well as the the Byhalia Christian Writers Yahoo group email. Many will be blessed by this prayer. Thanks Bob, and thank you Lord for your servant writer, Bob.

Ye Olde Rev said...

By your leave, I've copied and pasted your prayer for today in order to print it off and post it over my desk to remind me whose I am and who my Chief Editor is. Thank you for writing it. Blessings, Cass

Hoss said...

Thank you both for your kind comments! I'm blessed to have you use the prayer in your own writing.

JP said...

Bob, I met you at one of the Florida Christian Writers Conferences many years ago. Thank you so much for sharing this prayer. I have printed it to place above my computer and shared it on my FB page. Blessings for all you write for our Father!