Guard and Edit

Susan M. Kinney

Above all else, guard your heart,  for it is the wellspring of life. 

Proverbs 4:23

The first order of business for writing eye catching and desirable prose, in my opinion, is guarding your heart. “What?” You might wonder if I’ve jumped to a new and unrelated topic. Let me provide an example and explanation.

I heard about an author who knew how to plot and write powerfully. But, try as she might,  she was not selling her story. A friend of hers read the manuscript. At first she couldn’t put a finger on what didn’t sit well with her, when reading those pages. Then realization hit…her dear friend had gone through trials and a divorce. Taking another look at the story she could see powerful words, but they revealed the bitter anger and unforgiveness her friend was experiencing. When a reader came away from those pages, they were left feeling unfulfilled and negative.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 

What fruit do you love? What do you want to share with others? Do you want your writing to affect another’s life in a positive life-giving way?

Trying in our own strength to be good, to think right, and offer grace to the graceless can be challenging and frustrating. Thankfully, we are not alone for the Lord God Almighty, the Lover of our Souls, has provided aid for our every need. When we look to Him like Moses, Joseph and David as well as Paul, John and Mary we see that their successful journeys were not achieved alone. He was with them, His very presence offering words of encouragement, inspiration, and miracles.  

He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45 

Everyone experiences trials and pain and disappointments. There are a lot of situations and people we could be bitter and unforgiving toward, but what has our Lord and King make available for us? King David asked, 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 
Psalms 51: 10 – 13  

Your choice is yours of course, but desiring excellent fruit and a clean heart can only be found when resting and listening and laughing with our Lord, our Bright Morning Star! You may wonder how we guard our heart. We edit attitudes which are not His fruit with His help. The invitation is for all who will receive. So, how is your receiver lately?