Writing and Renewal

by Dr. Dwight David Croy

When writing, I often liken it to the action referred to in Holy Scriptures. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (Psalm 51:10, Romans 12:2, Titus 3:5). 

Writing products are often rewritten focusing on macro and micro issues. At different times I focus on punctuation, redundancy, placement of paragraphs, verbs, nouns, description and a whole host of other concerns as I strive to finish a work of writing. In the same way, as we commune with God in our brokenness and the joy of our salvation, we focus on different items, sins, struggles and mindsets that prevent us from standing in the presence of a holy God. 

The creation of a new heart, the renewing of a right spirit is an omnipotent work of God. Leave it to the Creator. “He which hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto that day.” – Henry Drummond

Works of writing remind me of my relationship with God. A writer can stop writing for a time, and a Christian can put communion with God on hold. A writer will have writer’s block, and a Christian can feel like God is distant when in reality it is he/she who has wandered. A writer will look for micro mistakes (especially before a publisher’s final editor looks at it), and a Christian will renew his/her heart in confession before taking communion within his/her worship community. A writer will put a piece of work that doesn’t look quite right and later come back to it with fresh objectivity. A Christian also does this as he/she takes in the Word of God, listens to His Spirit, and prayer reveals what God wants a believer to focus on. 

I want to be a good writer, but more so I want to be an active Christian seeking the face of a Holy God. The “renewal” verses of Holy Scripture remind me both of my work as a child of God saved by His grace and a writer to be used the way He so ordains. Being a mature Christian and a writer of excellence does not happen overnight, but God encourages us with these “renewal” passages.

Dr. Dwight David Croy, US Army Chaplain Retired, DMIN George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Spiritual Leadership and Formation, MDIV Denver Seminary with an emphasis in hristian Education, BRE Multnomah University is a Pastor, Teacher, an Author of “God’s Focus on the Fatherless;” “God’s Gracious Killer;” and “God’s Illuminating Blindness;” contributes to the body of Christ by writing, teaching, and speaking to promote Jesus Christ our one and only Savior. Learn more about Dr. Croy and his works on his website.