The Spiritual Discipline Of Writing

The Spiritual Discipline of Writing
I've spent 23 years as a pastor. During that time, I've sat with countless people who felt stuck in their lives. They'd come seeking answers, solutions, a way forward.
What they didn't expect was my prescription: "Write your autobiography."
I'm not a therapist. I don't pretend to be. But I've discovered something powerful happens when people put their story on paper.
When they force themselves to arrange their messy, complicated lives into words—something transformative happens.
They see patterns they missed. They notice turning points. They discover God was working in places they thought He was absent.
Why does this work? Because writing your story forces order from chaos. You can't just say "things happened" – you have to decide what matters, what connects, what belongs. Suddenly those random life fragments form a coherent narrative.
The process creates distance. You become both character and author of your own story, stepping back just enough to see the bigger picture. Most importantly, writing chronologically reveals God's threading throughout your life. Those "coincidences" start looking like divine appointments. That seemingly wasted season suddenly appears as preparation for your current calling.
Often, people discover parts of their story aren't just for them. Their suffering wasn't meaningless—it was preparation to help others facing similar battles. As 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, we comfort others with the same comfort we've received. Writing helps discern which parts of your story are meant as testimony and which remain between you and God alone.
This is just one example of the power of writing. It's more than communication; it's spiritual formation—a practice that draws us closer to God, clarifies our purpose, and strengthens our faith.
Writing as Surrender
Most spiritual disciplines involve yielding. Prayer yields our thoughts. Fasting yields our physical needs. Writing, when approached spiritually, yields our words to God's purposes.
Before you write, try this simple prayer:
"These words aren't mine, God. They're yours. Use them however you want."
That's harder than it sounds. We're attached to our words. We want control over how they're received. But true spiritual growth always involves surrender, and writing is no exception.
Your job isn't results. Your job is obedience. Write what God has placed in your heart to write. The rest belongs to Him.
God Speaks Through Your Writing
Here's something strange I've noticed: God often speaks to me through my own writing.
I'll be typing away, and suddenly a thought appears that I wasn't planning to write. An insight emerges that I didn't have before my fingers hit the keyboard.
This isn't mystical nonsense. Writing forces clarity. It requires organizing jumbled thoughts into coherent sentences. In that organizing process, the Holy Spirit often shows up. I have often, said, “you don’t know what you know until you try to write.” 
Even if you're writing a novel or a business book, try asking: "Lord, what do YOU want to say through this?" The answer might surprise you.
Writing to Serve
Writing isn’t always just for us. Sometimes, God will nudge into a new vulnerability. He’ll call you to share what you’ve written so that others can learn. 
Jesus boiled everything down to two commands: love God, love others. Good writing can do both.
A well-crafted story bypasses intellectual defenses and speaks directly to the heart. A clear teaching equips believers to live out their faith. Even a thoughtful social media post can be God's instrument of encouragement to someone who desperately needs it.
Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" and to keep "encouraging one another." If your writing does this—if it strengthens faith, challenges complacency, or encourages a weary soul—it's not just writing. It's ministry.
If You Are Going to Write, Especially As a Spiritual Discipline

1. Pray before you write. Not a quick "bless this," but genuine surrender of the outcome.
2. Develop the discipline of regularity. Writing only when inspired is like praying only when you feel spiritual. Set a schedule and see it as an appointment with God.
3. Pursue excellence relentlessly. Edit ruthlessly. Learn from more experienced writers. Offer God your best, not just your first draft.
4. Write for God first, audience second. Your primary aim is obedience to what God has called you to communicate.
5. Focus on serving others. Ask how your writing can meet real needs or solve real problems for your readers.

The Blank Page Is Waiting
Writing can be many things: a hobby, a creative outlet, a way to process thoughts, or even a paycheck. But when approached as a spiritual discipline, it becomes something far more profound—a sacred space where you encounter both yourself and God.
Embrace writing as a spiritual adventure—pushing beyond your comfort zone into the deeper waters where God often works most powerfully. Here, you confront difficult truths about yourself, wrestle honestly with Scripture, and discover unexpected insights that surprise even you.
Writing, when surrendered to God, becomes more than arranging words on a page. It becomes a mirror reflecting who we truly are—and a window revealing who God is calling us to become.
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