It’s been said that writers look on their books as children. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, this week, I found a writer’s application for a devotional on praying for children, titled “The Waiting Prayer.” This was in a lovely little book by Catherine Marshall, ADVENTURES IN PRAYER.
My current book is taking so long to come together. I’m praying and working hard, but it’s difficult not to worry as I compare my progress against the deadline.
Marshall muses that part of the problem of praying for children is “the time lag, the necessary slow maturation of our prayers. But that’s the way of God’s rhythm in nature … the hen must sit on her eggs to incubate them before the baby chicks hatch.” She reminds us that God always does things in HIS time.
She goes on to suggest writing prayer requests on egg-shaped pieces of paper and tucking them into our Bibles, to be released to God to fulfill in His own time.
I’m not suggesting I’m going to stop working on the task set before me. But I like the idea of writing my prayer (I’m a writer after all) and tucking it away between the Bible pages for God to answer. As best I am able, I will NOT worry.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:4
Dear Father, thank you for deadlines, because it means someone is waiting to read our words. We want to keep our commitments but we don’t want to stew—instead, we want to be good stewards of our time. We know we can’t do it without Your help, and you tell us you hear and act on our behalf. Please help us work and release us from worry, so we are free to write for You.
In the name of your Son Jesus,
Amen
Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead, author Dana McNeely wondered what became of the boy. She began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from his perspective. No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.
In 2021 RAIN became a finalist in The Christy Award (use the registered mark) and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award® and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award.
WHIRLWIND, the second novel in the “Whispers on the Wind” series, tells the story of a king’s downfall and a love that transcends war.
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