Is the ability to write well a skill or a gift from God?

[Guido]

I used to write in a poetic cadence more easily, although I would not write very frequently. I do not know if that was because I practiced writing poetry, or because I had a gift. These past several years, I hardly practice at all, and though I occasionally write something with somewhat decent poetic cadence, I usually fail to achieve it. I wonder if I should practice writing a lot of verse to strengthen my verbal skills, or if I should ask God for help whenever I write something. I know there is no God-breathed writing except the Bible.

Right now, I seem to be writing clearly and concisely, not attending much to prose rhythm, as far as I can tell. I know I practiced these two skills, and I know I also prayed a short prayer to God this morning, asking Him to help me speak clearly and concisely (this does not seem like I asked Him for help with writing at all, and maybe I prayed a short prayer about that or I didn't.). I also think I've been getting better quality sleep, because I quit drinking coffee in the evening a couple or a few weeks ago.

I don't know if writing is a skill or a gift. And I know that it's not a spiritual gift. I wonder if it's wrong to ask God for a gift of writing, or to ask God for help with writing something. I know that spiritual gifts are for God's glory.

Sometimes, I feel as though doing everything in my own strength not only doesn't work but is wrong, as though I should depend on God for everything, even the ability to focus and to stay motivated. I have not experienced God giving me day-long motivation lately, but when I was in college, I used to spend the whole day doing homework (I did not finish college), asking God for motivation to keep going whenever I got tired. Because I am so lazy now, I don't want the motivation so I don't even ask and if I ask I don't believe I'll get it. I am afraid to be willing to work for some reason.

I want to clarify that I already practiced writing clearly and concisely for some amount and to some degree, and that I also prayed a short prayer this morning for help speaking clearly and concisely. I just don't remember if I asked God about writing at the same time, although I prayed briefly for that before I wrote this. It is possible that God didn't help me at all.

So I am confused. Is writing a skill or a gift, and can we ask God for gifts, or is that a sin?

 

[Van]

Is writing a skill or a gift, and can we ask God for gifts, or is that a sin?

Certainly our capacity to do anything is first a gift of God as our creator. But the question asks did God specific imbue this person or that person with a special gift, such as to be an evangelist or teacher? I think it is more likely that God gifted some to be especially skilled in writing. I think people like C.S Lewis or Billy Graham were specially gifted by God.

But the bottom line comes back to how we use whatever we can do, in our ministry for Christ. I have seen people to my way of thinking were not gifted or called to be a teaching Pastor, who thought they were and went to school to get accreditation for that endeavor.

On the other hand, many of us, do not use our "gifts" or "skills" as effectively as we could in Christ's ministry. This certainly is our calling.

 

[atpollard]

So I am confused. Is writing a skill or a gift, and can we ask God for gifts, or is that a sin

I do not think WHAT is as important as WHY.

If we start with the “spiritual gifts”, the Bible offers some interesting insight. God (Holy Spirit) distributes as He pleases. They are given TO the individual for the benefit of THE BODY (group).

Let us examine “healing”. The Apostles healed MANY other people, but there are no stories of Apostles praying and healing themselves. The one prayer we have of Paul praying for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed, was answered with a clear “NO.” So “healing” (like the “spiritual gifts”) appears to be a ONE ANOTHER thing.

I suggest that you might do better to focus your prayer on what you can DO … like Eph 2:10 … the good works that God may have prepared in advance for you to walk in. If “PROSE” can be of service, God’s Holy Spirit is certainly capable of being your ‘muse’. If God has some other work for you to walk in … you will not have time to miss writing poetry.

Psalm37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

I used to write in a poetic cadence more easily, although I would not write very frequently. I do not know if that was because I practiced writing poetry, or because I had a gift. These past several years, I hardly practice at all, and though I occasionally write something with somewhat decent poetic cadence, I usually fail to achieve it. I wonder if I should practice writing a lot of verse to strengthen my verbal skills, or if I should ask God for help whenever I write something. I know there is no God-breathed writing except the Bible.

Right now, I seem to be writing clearly and concisely, not attending much to prose rhythm, as far as I can tell. I know I practiced these two skills, and I know I also prayed a short prayer to God this morning, asking Him to help me speak clearly and concisely (this does not seem like I asked Him for help with writing at all, and maybe I prayed a short prayer about that or I didn't.). I also think I've been getting better quality sleep, because I quit drinking coffee in the evening a couple or a few weeks ago.

I don't know if writing is a skill or a gift. And I know that it's not a spiritual gift. I wonder if it's wrong to ask God for a gift of writing, or to ask God for help with writing something. I know that spiritual gifts are for God's glory.

Sometimes, I feel as though doing everything in my own strength not only doesn't work but is wrong, as though I should depend on God for everything, even the ability to focus and to stay motivated. I have not experienced God giving me day-long motivation lately, but when I was in college, I used to spend the whole day doing homework (I did not finish college), asking God for motivation to keep going whenever I got tired. Because I am so lazy now, I don't want the motivation so I don't even ask and if I ask I don't believe I'll get it. I am afraid to be willing to work for some reason.

I want to clarify that I already practiced writing clearly and concisely for some amount and to some degree, and that I also prayed a short prayer this morning for help speaking clearly and concisely. I just don't remember if I asked God about writing at the same time, although I prayed briefly for that before I wrote this. It is possible that God didn't help me at all.

So I am confused. Is writing a skill or a gift, and can we ask God for gifts, or is that a sin?

To my knowledge, the Bible does not speak of writing as a gift. Attaining skillfulness at doing something for God is a fully legitimate matter of prayer.

I really like Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 and have prayed through it numerous times in asking God to help me with things that I have written in His service, such as sermons, articles, papers for seminary classes, etc.:

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

 

[Scarlett O.]

@Guido

The Bible doesn't speak about giraffes, either. But they are real. The Bible doesn't speak about a lot of things and we should not say that those things are unimportant.

If you like to write - I like to write, too - then practice it daily. Let God take care of how he will use you. Let him guide.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

The Bible doesn't speak about giraffes, either. But they are real. The Bible doesn't speak about a lot of things and we should not say that those things are unimportant.

If you like to write - I like to write, too - then practice it daily. Let God take care of how he will use you. Let him guide.

This is a strange reply to my comments. I did not say that writing is unimportant. I also did not discourage him from continuing to write.

 

[Scarlett O.]

This is a strange reply to my comments. I did not say that writing is unimportant. I also did not discourage him from continuing to write.

Yikes!!!! I quoted the wrong person.

I thought I was quoting the OP!

Many, MANY apologies! I'll fix it.

 

[Guido]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I shouldn't have implied I was gifted or skilled. My writing was never that good, although occasionally, I wrote some things that were better than others.

I intend to pray consistently about getter better at writing, and to practice writing verse in order to strengthen my verbal skills.

Lately, I have also asked God to make me more godly, but unfortunately, I haven't noticed myself growing much spiritually. Though it appears that for a long time, I have not, I am not sure of this. Lately, however, I have been praying more.