Wonderful writing resources are easily available to us. We can access rhyming, spelling, and foreign language dictionaries. We can look up synonyms in a thesaurus, and find the perfect line to quote in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. If you need to write a screenplay, you can purchase programs to help with formatting. Need feedback on your work? You can join a critique group. Need to find some writing projects? You can look to freelance sites like Upwork.com and Fiverr.com for opportunities. Need to hone your skills? You can take writing classes at a community college, or take one of Write2Ignite’s Master Classes. But there is a resource that we sometimes forget to use properly. That resource is God.

He Confirms Our Calling

I firmly believe writing as a Christian is a calling. Growing up, I was good with grammar, and I wrote well. But I didn’t really think of writing as a viable career, or even as a calling—until a friend needed help with her writing skills. As I shared techniques with her, the Lord showed me that there was much more to my writing. He showed me that I was to use this skill to give Him glory.

The phrase “Where God guides, God provides” comes to mind. We often look more at the providing part, when we should really be focused on the guiding part. We need to truly give our writing to Him—daily. As we do, He confirms our calling. This is crucial in those lean times when another rejection letter lands in our inbox. With His confirmation, we keep moving forward as we wait for His perfect timing.

He Provides Inspiration

Ever been stuck thinking of a writing topic? Don’t forget to ask the Lord. He can provide the inspiration for anything we are writing. Sometimes, though, we have to wait for that flicker of an idea. This is hard to do when there are deadlines looming. But as we seek His guidance, as we trust His timing, an amazing thing happens. When you least expect it, a thought enters your mind. That thought starts to blossom, and a topic is found! It sounds crazy, but I have successfully done this for most of my twenty plus years of writing. The Lord is amazing!

He Opens Doors

I was recently asked how I find my writing projects. I have to credit the Lord. Through Him I have met other writers who have shared information with me that has led to several paid opportunities. Those opportunities have built up my writing resume, which has allowed others to see my writing potential and to offer me other projects to work on. But those opportunities would never have come if God hadn’t opened the doors.

The Lord is my most valuable writing resource. As I yield my skills to Him, as I trust Him for confirmation, as I look to Him for inspiring ideas and the right opportunities, I have never been disappointed. He always comes through one way or the other.

Are you utilizing the Lord as one of your writing resources? How has He blessed you?

Unsplash Photo Credits: Ying Ge, Clay Banks, Junior Ferreira, and Priyanka Pandey.

Catherine L. Osornio has written inspirational articles for a women’s ministry newsletter, over 200 leveled reader stories for a school’s reading program, fiction and nonfiction articles for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines, The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, Thunder Comes a Rumblin’, Mosquitoes Infect!, Danger on Martin Mountain, plus various work-for-hire projects. A former elementary school librarian, Catherine is passionate about sharing the love of reading. She enjoys cartooning, illustration, and reading kids’ books. Email her at CLOsornio@verizon.net or visit her at www.catherineosornio.com.