Feeling unsure about our writing seems to be a universal malady. Or maybe, I’m simply saying that to make myself feel better. I know I’ve often felt like my words sounded flat, hollow, or not quite good enough, especially, since I’m not a natural English speaker.

Have you ever felt that way? Like you know that you’re called to be a writer, gifted to write, but now and again, you’re stumped?

Maybe, we can learn a thing or two from God’s instructions to the prophet Habakkuk.

Then the LORD answered and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it,…”

HABAKKUK 2:2 NKJV

Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 2, has got to be the most well known verse about writing in the Holy Bible, or at least, it has been quoted quite a lot in writings about, well, writing. Here are a few things that stand out to me about that verse.

The LORD. It All Begins And Ends With The LORD God

Just like life, and the world, and time, and everything that is, or ever will be, all have their beginning in God.

We begin in Him, from Him, for Him. Our ability, gifts, talents, to think, the thoughts we think, to write, all come from Him.

And because His are the words, we must always ask Him for the right ones. The right ones to use where and when.

Write. Write the Vision. Make It Plain

God calls us to write, gives us the gifts and talents to do so, even the words to use. Guess what our part is?

Write, exactly. Write what He shows us. Write to make it plain. Not water it down, no, but make it clear. Make it clear in the way only He knows how to do, through His words flowing through us, out of the gift of writing He gives us.

‘Gives’ us, because I believe that not only does He puts the gift in us, but He continues to grow the gift in us, through our continued obedience to Him, to His calling.

Place and Purpose

God gives us the gift and talent, the words, the visions, and the writing tools to use. Words spoken and passed down through our oral traditions can be powerful, but words written down lasts forever.

The Bible is the perfect example. God gave His words to ordinary men, and inspired them, as He does Habakkuk, to write them.

And He did so, continues to do so in us, for His purpose. God tells Habakkuk to write so that he who reads it can run. Or, whoever reads it will run. Will do God’s purpose. Go on, write, for you accomplish God’s purpose when you do, and so does the one who reads it.

What words, visions is God telling you to write today?

Prayer

“Father God, You are Holy and worthy to be praised! Thank You, for giving me, and my fellow writers the gift and talent to write. Help us to write down Your words, Your visions, and make it plain. And help those who read them to run and accomplish Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, I pray this. Amen!”

Writing Prompts

Gather your materials: Your Bible, either a physical copy or a digital one; your journal, diary or notebook; favourite pens, highlighters, etc.

Read through Habakkuk once again, pray, and write down what the Holy Spirit shows you about what you’ve read.

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