A Writer’s Prayer: Clinging to You, Lord!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Xochi E. Dixon

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4, NIV

Thank You, Lord, for inspiring our dreams and igniting our passion to honor You with every word we write.

Help us delight in Your goodness, rejoicing as we acknowledge Your sovereignty.

Help us delight in Your faithfulness, praising You for revealing Your love to us in times of tears and times of laughter.

Help us delight in Who You are, and what You’ve done for us, as we place every moment of our lives on the altar as an offering of our devotion.

Help us follow in courage as we worship in joy that does not depend on our circumstances.

Help us cling to You alone, knowing You will bring to fruition the beautiful plan You’ve written for our lives.

May knowing You intimately be the ultimate desire of our hearts, Abba.

Align our desires with Yours, Lord.

Please, do what You will, loving Shepherd.

And help us trust You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Portions of this prayer were previously published on the Inspire Christian Writer’s blog on April 1, 2012

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A Writer’s Prayer: Let Your Mercy Flow

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Xochi E. Dixon

Rushing Water through the woods by LEP edited 2012 “It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” Deuteronomy 13:4, NIV

Thank You for welcoming us into Your presence, Lord.

You are transcendent and immanent. You are our faithful Shepherd and our Wise Counselor.

You call us to serve You and equip us for the work You have planned for us. Please give us discerning and obedient hearts as we seek Your will for us.

Identify anything we are placing above You in our lives and purge us of impure motives. Fill us with courage to follow You, even when the path looks impossible or doesn’t make sense.

Help us not to limit You by setting expectations or measuring our success by worldly standards.

No matter what we are facing or how we are feeling, empower us with Your truth.

Let Your mercy flow like a gushing river, through the moments that feel shadowed by our circumstances and the moments showered in Your Light.

Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10, NIV)

Yes, Lord, it is You we are committed to serve with every breath we take and every word we write.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Previously Published on Inspire Christian Writers Website on March 25, 2012

Photo by Lauren Pfahlert

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A Writer’s Prayer: Writing with a Worry-Free Heart

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Xochi E. Dixon

Lilies and Roses Feb 2013

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothed the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (Matthew 6:27-30, NASB )

Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with the power of the Holy Spirit Who opens our eyes with understanding and strengthens our resolve with the peace of knowing You’re in control.

Help us to remember You, our Provider, know and care about our deepest needs.

Align our will and our heart’s desires with Yours.

Keep our eyes steadfast on You.

Empty us of self so that we can experience the peace of trusting Your plan, Your provision, and Your timing.

Pluck worry from our minds and hearts so that we can serve You through writing, pursuing You above any form of publication.

Help us not to concern ourselves with the possibilities of rejections or acceptances, as we work toward excellence of craft and write for Your glory in obedience and faith.

May our main goals be to please You, to serve Your people, and to honor You through the ministry of love You’ve placed in our hearts.

In Jesus name, amen

What verse or verses does the Lord use to help you place your worries in the palm of His loving hand?

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A Writer’s Prayer: Empowered by the Vine

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Xochi E. Dixon

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5, NIV

Thank You, Lord, for nurturing us with Your truth, dwelling within us, and empowering us to enjoy a life of fruitfulness.

Cultivate grace and courage in our hearts.

Prune us with gentle hands so we will bloom, as we obey Your Word.

Help us praise You with reckless abandon, with every word we write.

Like a row of lush grapevines, intertwine our lives as we support, encourage, and offer accountability to one another in love and truth.

Saturate us with Your presence as we stand firm against the storms that come our way.

When we can’t see the fruit of our labor bursting forth, help us continue to plant and water the seeds faithfully, trusting You are working to grow from the root.

Give us peace and rest as we draw near to You.

While it can be tempting to focus on results and pursue publication more than we pursue You, please give us an eternal perspective and keep our hearts devoted to You above all else.

Help us write in obedience and faith, developing and using our gifts for Your purpose, not our own.

Strengthen our resolve, Abba. We want to be nestled in the center of Your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

How can serving in faithfulness grow our faith when the fruit of our labor seems scarce?

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Portions of this prayer were previously published on the Inspire Christian Writers Blog on March 18, 2012.

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Photo by X. E. Dixon

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A Writer’s Prayer: Blooming in the Desert

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Xochi E. Dixon

Blooming Flower in a Barren Land May 2010 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25, NIV)

Lord, Your Word promises that You “will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Your Truth nourishes the root of our hearts, helping us bloom in the desert.

Your love revitalizes us when circumstances threaten to dehydrate our faith.

When we’re surrounded by the dryness of uncertainties, fears, or change, please saturate us with Your presence, Father.

Pour Your peace into every fiber of our being until we radiate with resilience.

No matter where You have us planted, for this moment, please accept every word we write as a fragrant offering of love and worship to You.

Help us plant seeds of truth in the hearts of our readers and water those seeds with encouragement and hope, for Your glory alone.

We love You. We need You. We praise You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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What verse can you share with our fellow writers that the Lord uses to strengthen your resolve?

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Portions of this prayer were previously posted on Inspire Christian Writers Blog, March 11, 2012

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Photo, Bloom in the Dessert, by X. E. Dixon

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Where to Now, Lord?

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Xochi E. Dixon

A Prayer for Direction

“This is what the LORD says−your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17, NIV

Father God, we thank You and praise You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Your faithfulness, goodness, and love strengthen us in times of uncertainty during our writing journey.

Direct our steps. Align our hearts with Yours. Drench us with Your grace as we bend to Your will.

Give us clarity and courage, showing us the next step You want us to take.

Bless us with sensitivity to Your nudging, refreshing our spirit like the spritz of an ocean breeze.

Help us trust You and follow wherever You lead, Abba.

We surrender each word we write to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How has God blessed you with a U-Turn, dead-end, or a detour in your writing journey?

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Previously published at www.inspirewriters.com on March 4, 2012

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Christian Fish Symbol

“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that

the grace of God is with you no matter what happens.”

1 Peter 5:12b (NLT)