Giving up the Perfect Prayer

Over the last few years I’ve met a ton of neat authors, many of whom have kindly shared some of their hard earned lessons in our industry. I’ve also been blessed with good counsel from agents and editors, but one of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve ever received has to be: “Don’t get it right, get it written.”

The phrasing makes it easy to remember but the practice of learning to turn off your inner editor and let the thoughts flow is crucial to getting something down on paper. I’ve learned that the first words to start lining up seldom make the final cut and that’s okay.  It’s far more important that I just sit down and start writing, to let myself feel the familiar tap of my fingers on the keyboard as I search for what it is that I really want to say. Once the words start flowing, I can always delete the opening ramble. Granted, some might say my writing style is pretty much a ramble all the way. I would forgive them for that. They don’t see what gets trashed!

I’ve noticed that my prayer times benefit from a similar practice. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes what I start off saying is not at all what I mean. It’s stilted and formal and pretty much what I think God wants to hear but it’s not what’s on my heart. I can try to pray without opening my mouth and I can try to compose just the right prayer, just the right way. Either approach will just be a meaningless exercise. Nothing life changing happens until I open mouth and begin to pray. Sometimes I have to come to Him and pour out a bunch of words before I can get to some that matter, but it is so worth it when the fellowship begins to flow. Maybe the practice will help you discover His sweet friendship. If so, perhaps you could remember it this way, “Don’t get it perfect; get it prayed.”

Hugs,
Shellie