Committed Words, Established Plans
Staff member and author Shirley Crowder reflects on the 2025 Southern Christian Writers Conference Bible verse. The 2025 SCWC takes place on June 6-7 in Birmingham, Alabama.
I had planned everything out to the tiniest detail. The outline was polished, the deadlines were set, and I was confident that everything would unfold just as I envisioned. But then… God had something else in mind.
It was not failure—it was redirection. What I thought was a detour turned out to be divine guidance. In quiet moments of surrender, I realized that my plans, no matter how carefully crafted, are safest when placed in His hands.
This is the heart of Proverbs 16:3: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” This verse is not just a promise—it is a posture. It calls us to humbly surrender our creative process, our ambitions, and our outcomes to the One who gave us the gift of words in the first place.
To “commit” in the original Hebrew, gōl, carries the idea of “rolling” something onto the Lord—like rolling a heavy burden off your shoulders and placing it into His capable hands. As writers, this means we don’t carry the weight of success, recognition, or even clarity alone. We roll our outlines, drafts, deadlines, and dreams onto God, trusting that He will shape them according to His will.
When we do this, Scripture assures us that God will “establish” our plans. This does not mean He rubber-stamps every idea we have. Rather, He aligns our desires with His purposes. He brings clarity to our calling, steadiness to our steps, and fruitfulness to our faithfulness. Our plans become more than personal goals—they become part of His greater story.
At the Southern Christian Writers Conference, we gather not just to sharpen our craft, but to deepen our calling. Whether you write devotionals, fiction, poetry, journalism, or memoir, your words can be a vessel of truth, healing, and hope. But only when they are first committed to the Lord.
This commitment is not a one-time act—it is a daily discipline. Each morning, we can choose to place our writing, our voice, and our influence into God’s hands. We can ask Him to guard our motives, guide our message, and grow our ministry. In doing so, we become more than writers—we become stewards of the Word, entrusted with stories that reflect the heart of God.
This heart of surrender is beautifully captured in the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” by Frances R. Havergal. Her words echo the spirit of Proverbs 16:3:
Writer’s Prayer:
Lord, I commit my words to You. Shape them, use them, and let them reflect Your heart. Establish my plans—not for my glory, but for Yours.
Thought for the Day:
When we place our plans in God’s hands, He places His purpose in our hearts. Trust the Author of your story.
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Shirley Crowder was born in a mission guest house under the shade of a mango tree in Nigeria, West Africa, where her parents served as missionaries. She's a Biblical counselor and musician, and the author or co-author of 15 books (many of them devotionals). Her books include the Glimpses of God devotional series (including Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn books), Glimpses of the Savior, Hope for New Beginnings, Advent Meditations for Addicts, and Prayer Warrior Confessions among others. She and Harriet's most recent book is Wonder & Worship: 65 Days of Devotion. Shirley is also a SCWC Staff Assistant. Shirley's blog, Through the Lens of Scripture, includes posts on counseling, book reviews and more.
You can participate with the 2025 Southern Christian Writers Conference with virtual access! In-person slots are full for the SCWC, but you can get access to recordings from the conference's informational and inspirational keynote presentations and workshop sessions. Learn about conference leaders HERE, and register for virtual access HERE.
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