Writing About Past Trauma (Part II Revised)

Additional Resources on this subject:

+Listen to the Teaching

+Read PART I

+Help For Your Brokenness (Local Program)

+The Chamber of the Scribe (Leaders Healing Gatherings & Forum)

+ View Chamber of the Scribe Video on Youtube

Copyright 2009 Theresa Harvard Johnson

This morning, the Lord impressed it upon my heart to share the following with you about writing about past trauma in your life.

Because you are prophetic writers, your writing process is going to be significantly different that that of other writersl. Before taking on this task in its fullness, make sure you take this project to the Lord in prayer (every time you sit down to write if necessary) and pray something like this over yourself:

Father, in the name of your son Jesus, guide my heart concerning the things you want revealed in this book. I know that it is your desire that others be convicted, healed, delivered and set free by my testimony, so use me for your glory. Continue to bring freedom to me as I write. Guide me through those areas Lord that YOU want me to recall and share. As I write about them, bring healing quickly to my soul. Refresh me with your fruit. Your word said that I will write so that my joy may be full. Father, protect me from distractions, manipulations of the mind, old mindsets and patterns that are looking for a way back in. Guard my soul against the spirit of confusion, heaviness and depression. Cause me to write by your SPIRIT. Seal your word and your will for this book to me and within me that I may stay FOCUSED. My Father, I decree and declare that that no doors that you have closed on past traumas in my life can be opened according to your word. I ask that the Holy Spirit be my guide through this project. Alert me, Holy Spirit, when I am pulled away. Guard my heart for out it flows the issues of life. In Jesus' Name.

As you walk through, begin to keep out the things of the world like news programs, television shows, music or other worldly things that can reignite past hurts or pollute your writing process. You see, many writers will come under heavy spiritual attack when stepping out on projects like this. So I want you to be ready. By keeping silent (and silence is a weapon), you are not giving the adversary or his agents an opportunity to destroy the seeds or the seedling the Lord has placed in you. Just so you know... the war will begin; but you will need the power to resist the enemy and PRESS FORWARD quickly.

Even if you come up against a painful memory or an overwhelming guilt, you have to walk through it and keep writing. DO NOT... and I repeat DO NOT linger there. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your soul and fill you with the Word of God. Don't be afraid to share with those who will read your book how you pressed through those moments. FOR MANY OF YOU, the completing of this book will be a key step to closing the door on this past trauma in your life.

As a PROPHETIC WRITER - one who is writing the heart and mind of God, pay close attention to the Spirit's leading. For example, there would be times when I was in the middle of cooking, laundry or even out and about when the desire to write would fall on me. I learned over time to stop what I was doing -- even pulling onto the side of the road in a safe place -- to listen to the Lord and record the nuggets He wanted to reveal.

I keep hearing the Lord say this to some here: ASK HIM who to share your writing process, your ideas and sections of your manuscript with. Ask the Lord who you should talk to about this project in any capacity and follow His leading. This is very, very important.

If you want to know how to distinguish between soul writing and prophetic writing keep this simple statement in mind: The Lord will only speak of his word. Does this mean your book will be chock full of scripture? No, but it does mean that the presence of the Lord will be evident from cover-to-cover AND there will be a scriptural basis for the things you write.

Last, I want to encourage you to write as you receive things. Do not worry so much about the order of chapters or pages. With PROPHETIC WRITING, the focus is on telling the story the way the Lord wants it told. Once you've completed your writing, the HOLY SPIRIT will help you edit it with great precision.... tying every single chapter together.