Drawing a Blank?

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

Revelation 1:19 NIV

So, you’ve come to your deadline and stare at a blank page. Your palms sweat and a headache seeps across your forehead. At the moment, writing your will sounds more appealing than the article in front of you. What’s a writer to do?

I’ve heard many writers say the best antidote for writer’s block is spending time with the Lord. We may come to the table empty, but when we feast on God’s Word, we never leave hungry.

Scripture prods us to:

• Pursue justice, mercy and humility. Micah 6:8
• Love our neighbor. Matthew 19:19
• Look after orphans and widows. James 1:27
• Be generous. Matthew 25:31-46
• Be teachable, learn from mistakes and make corrections, and train in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

What do these verses have to do with writing? We need writers to:

• Write about justice, mercy and humility.
• Show us what it means to love others.
• Share the plight of orphans and widows.
• Tell us about those in need.
• Rightly divide the Word of Truth.

Even our theme verse provides a template. Revelation 1:19 says to write!

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

• Tell your story. What have you seen?
• Report on current events or struggles you’re facing. What are you learning?
• Talk about the future. What gives you hope?

Let your time with the Lord guide your words to reflect His heart.

Exercise:

A great way to boost your own morale is to encourage another. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to encourage someone else. Write a letter or send a card to one or more of the following:

• A mentor. In what way did she encourage you?
• An acquaintance. What character trait do you admire about him?
• A family member. Say, “I’m proud of you!”
• A co-worker. What have you taken for granted?
• Someone younger than you. What do you wish would have been said to your younger self?

Recently, a publication ceased outsourcing to its regular list of contributors. I mourned the loss of that assignment, thinking I would get lost in obscurity. Within a week, I received a phone call and a message from regular readers. My words were appreciated! Yours are, too; your words make a difference. Write!

Have you noticed it lifts your mood when you lift another? Whom will you encourage today?

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net