The Joy of Writing from His Presence

How to Move from Performance to Partnership

I used to write about God like a foreign correspondent reporting from a distant land.

I could explain theological concepts, analyze their relevance, and write compelling arguments defending them (in my opinion, anyway).

My blog posts were filled with observations about modern media's influence and interpretations of end-times prophecy. From the outside, it probably looked like solid Christian Content™.

But in all of that, something was missing.

It wasn't until I had a genuine encounter with the gospel—one that transformed how I understood God's love for me personally—that I realized the difference.

I hadn't been writing from relationship; I'd been writing from research. I had the gift of writing, yes. I loved literature, putting sentences together, playing with words.

But I was using that gift to showcase knowledge rather than share life.

Now I see it differently. Writing isn't about proving my theological understanding or demonstrating my literary skill. It's about being a conduit for the story God is telling through my life.

The gift of writing is just that—a gift. And like every good gift, it finds its true purpose when we return it to the Giver.

This changed everything for me, including how I approached writing in the digital age. You see, when we write from our identity as beloved children of God rather than striving content creators, authenticity flows naturally. We can be vulnerable. And our words, though perhaps technically similar, carry a different weight because they come from a different place.

This is not another technique for better writing, but an invitation to discover what happens when we let our writing flow from His presence rather than our performance.

The Freedom of Writing from Identity

I’ll start with the end result of writing from our identity in Christ:

Relief.

The pressure lifts. When you know that Jesus isn't distant, that He loves you personally and has chosen to partner with you in reaching others, it transforms every aspect of the art of writing.

You don't need to stress about the process because you're not the source; you're the conduit.

You don't need validation from metrics or responses because your confidence comes from who you are in Him, not from what you can produce.

This doesn't mean we abandon “craft” or stop caring about writing well. The technical aspects of good writing still matter. After all, we want to honor both God and our readers by communicating clearly and effectively. But these skills serve a different purpose now: making God's truth more accessible to others.

Because of this revelation of God’s love and presence in me, I no longer feel as though I’m writing a report about a foreign country.

Instead, it’s like writing a letter home about the place you now live.

One comes from observation; the other comes from experience. One focuses on facts; the other flows from relationship. Both might contain similar information, but they carry very different weights because they come from very different places.

That's the difference between writing about God and writing from knowing Him.

Beginning in His Presence

So how do we practically write from this place? Really, it starts before we open our laptops or pick up our pens.

It starts with presence.

For me, this means taking time to simply be with God before writing. Not asking for guidance about what to write or how to write it—just dwelling in His presence. Close your eyes, let your thoughts settle, and look at Him looking at you in love.

This isn't about following a formula, but about reorienting ourselves to the reality of He is and who we are to Him.

Something crucial will begin to shift in your mind. Instead of seeing an indistinct "online audience" I you to impress, you’ll begin to see real people with real struggles whom God wants to reach. People He loves. People He has chosen to reach through the gift He's given you.

I have a few key verses for you as well.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Practical Steps for Spirit-Led Writing

We can’t boil this down to a template or formula, but here are some practical steps that I think help. Take what resonates and leave the rest.

1. Create a dedicated time and space for being in God's presence before writing

   1. Find a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted

   2. Keep a simple prayer journal nearby

   3. Remove distractions that might pull you back into "performance mode"

2. Let your first draft flow from that place of presence

   1. Write without editing initially

   2. Trust that your identity in Christ is enough

   3. When stuck, return to His presence rather than forcing words. Take a break.

3. Edit with purpose

   1. Focus on clarity and accessibility, serving your readers

   2. Address technical aspects while maintaining authentic voice

4. Draw from genuine experience

   1. Start with your own encounters with God's truth

   2. Look for patterns in your journey that might help others. Odds are very high that someone out there is going through the same thing you are, or did in the past.

   3. Share as a fellow traveler, not someone who’s reached the destination.

Remember, this isn't about perfecting a process. It's about partnering with God to share the story He's telling through your life. The technical skills of writing serve this purpose rather than define it.

The Gift of Vulnerability

One of the most beautiful things that happens when we write from our identity in Christ is that vulnerability becomes natural.

When you know who you are in Him, you don't need to maintain an image of having it all together. You're free to be honest about your journey because you're simply an exhibit of His grace.

This is exactly what readers in our digital age are hungry for.

In a world of carefully curated content and polished personas, authentic stories of God's work in real lives stand out. Not because they're perfectly crafted, but because they're genuinely lived.

When we write from this place, we can share openly about our struggles and failures because we know they're not the end of the story - they're just the backdrop for displaying His grace. We can identify more easily with where our readers might be in their journey because we've been there too, and we know the One who meets us there.

This kind of writing doesn't require us to be spiritual giants or theological experts. It simply requires us to be honest about what God is doing in our lives. The story He's telling through you is exactly the story someone else needs to hear.

A New Way Forward

If you've been struggling with the demands of digital writing, feeling pressure to perform, wrestling with metrics, or trying to maintain a perfect image, I want you to know there's another way. A way that flows from relationship rather than strives for results.

This doesn't mean every writing session will feel magical, or that words will always flow easily. But it does mean you can approach writing from a place of rest rather than striving, knowing that the same God who gave you the gift will bring its use to fruition.

Your Next Step

If you’ve never tried it before, the next time you sit down to write, I invite you to start by simply being with God. Don't ask for writing guidance yet. Don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. Just take a few moments to dwell in His presence and remember who you are in Him:

A temple of the Living Spirit.

Adopted.

Loved.

Then, when you begin to write, let it flow from that place. Trust that your experience of His grace—however imperfect or in-progress—is exactly what someone else needs to hear.