By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Do we take time to ask God what He wants from our writing? Tough question because none of us want to sound unspiritual. We advocate God is the Boss, and we may ask Him for guidance. But do we seek His purpose in gifting us with the ability to communicate through the written word? How can we serve Him best?

This post is designed to encourage the writer who has been called to share God’s message through the many genres and platforms. 

Let’s start with the basics of our relationship with Him.

• Our Creator God desires intimacy with us, and our established relationship is our most important priority. Choose knowing His heart above all things.
• Trust means faith and absolute assurance in His love for us.
• Prayer is our means to connect with God. He speaks to us through His Word, other people, dreams and visions, the creation, nature, and His still small voice. 
• God equips His children with talents and abilities to proclaim His message. 
• He will never abandon His own.

We are writers. Some of us specialize in fiction, nonfiction, blog posts, articles, poetry, devotions, song writing, emails, or letters. Within those categories are subcategories that appeal to us. We’ve been told we’re good at our niche, and many experience tremendous satisfaction from the creative process. We study the craft, read, write, pray, learn social media, attend writing conferences that are physical and virtual, and repeat. Experiencing stress and worry with our writing solves nothing but demonstrates a lack of trust.

A range of issues can stop our enthusiasm, but one we too often fail to address is … what does God want from our writing? Have we asked His purpose for our lives? Or are we so sure of what we want with our writing that seeking His will might shake us to the core? 

No one knows exactly what God desires of our writing except Him. Yet we can see His hand of guidance when we put everything aside and pursue His will. God does not desire to keep His will for us a secret.

If you are questioning what God wants from your writing …

1.  Pour out your heart to Him in prayer.

2.  Understand His ways aren’t our ways. 

3.  Daily put yourself on the altar for Him. 

4.  Understand, we can’t expect Him to reveal His will if we’re walking away from Him.

5.  Seek godly counsel. 

6.  Don’t put a timetable on God’s answer.

7.  Remember how God has spoken to you in the past.

8.  Keep writing until you have a clear understanding of your purpose.

9.  Remember there are no lowly writing assignments. His job for us always has an eternal blessing. 

10. Write for an audience of One, and you will bless the hearts of many.

I could offer you many Scripture passages to help in your search, but here are a few of my favorites.

• If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, James 1:5 ESV
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
• As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 1 Peter 4:10 ESV
• Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:4-5 EV
• I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2 ESV
• For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Writers have been given a beautiful gift. Use it wisely to His purpose.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and Mountainside Retreats: Marketing, Nonfiction, Novelists, and Speakers with social media specialist Edie Melson. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or her website: diannmills.com