The Most Powerful Words You’ll Ever Write are the Ones That Change You First

Does this ever happen to you? You’re sitting with your Bible, a profound truth washes over you, and before you can even whisper, ‘Thank you, Lord,’ your mind is already outlining a blog post.

Viewing all of life as potential content to craft into our written work is a common—even necessary—trait in all writers, whether it’s simply our nature or a trained skill. First, we observe or experience something, and then we write words inspired by those observations or experiences. 

For Christian writers, though, this normal creative process becomes a hazard when we treat each interaction with God’s Word as a writing prompt for content to feed our readers instead of as living water for our own thirsty souls. We may be called to be messengers of the truth, but our primary calling is to be mastered by the truth.

A Lesson in a Deadline

God convicted me of this very thing as I was writing a Bible study on 1 John. I was challenged by its difficult call to love others sacrificially. It’s an uncomfortable truth, and I was tempted to teach it without first allowing that costly command to transform my own heart.

But John’s introductory paragraph gently rebuked me. He opens his letter by testifying that the words he’s writing came from what he had “heard,” “seen with [his] eyes, and touched with [his] hands” (1 John 1:1). His message about the gospel of Jesus Christ carried weight because it was born from John’s personal experience; he had actually been with Jesus. John wasn’t merely teaching the truth; he had been transformed by it. His transformation led to his testimony.

So, even though I had a deadline to meet for my Bible study, I slowed down. I decided to let the truth marinate in my own heart before setting it on pages for others. I feasted on it, digested it, and responded to God’s Word with repentance and worship. 

I admit this wasn’t easy. At first, I felt anxious because time was ticking, and spending even five precious minutes on anything other than the task at hand felt unproductive—a luxury I couldn’t afford. But, by God’s grace, I quickly learned that I lost nothing by “indulging” myself in some blessed communion with Christ before focusing on my work and ministry. Writing the Bible study actually became easier because it was an overflow of what God was doing in my own heart.

Spiritual Formation Matters 

God is often more interested in the formation of the writer than the immediate publication of the message. Our ultimate calling isn’t to build a platform, but to become more like Jesus. The truth of God’s Word must first do its work in us before it can flow powerfully through us. 

So, I want to gently challenge you: The next time a powerful truth from God’s Word jumps out at you, instead of opening a new document, open your journal. Write down the verse. Ask God questions about it and seek His answer. Write out a prayer. Give the Holy Spirit time and space to work that truth from your head into your heart. Marinate in it and allow it to soak in and season you before sharing it with your readers. 

The most powerful words we’ll ever write will be the overflow of a heart that has first been filled and transformed by Him. 

A Practical Challenge for Faithful Writing

• Is there a spiritual insight you’re excited about right now? What would it look like to treasure it in your heart for a while before turning it into a public piece?
• Before you outline your next article, first write a prayer about it, asking God, “Lord, what do you want this truth to do in me?”
• How can you shift your posture from that of a reporter on a deadline to a disciple at the feet of Jesus?

This blog post originally appeared as The Most Powerful Words You’ll Ever Write on my Wield The Word Substack in September 2025.