Pray for Unusual Aptitude: Why Christian Writers Must Read Widely
There's a question I ask every writer I coach: "What are you reading right now?"
The answer tells me a lot.
Some writers rattle off three or four books—fiction, nonfiction, maybe a memoir, something outside their comfort zone. Their faces light up talking about what they're learning, what's inspiring them, how another writer's technique is shaping their own work.
Other writers hesitate. "Well... I'm reading a couple of books for research. And I just finished a book on writing. But I haven't really had time to read for fun."
And some writers—more than you might expect—say, "Honestly? I haven't been reading much. I'm too busy writing."
When I hear that last response, I know we've got work to do.
Because here's the truth: You cannot write well if you do not read widely.
A Biblical Case for Reading Everything
Let me take you to Daniel 1.
Daniel and his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—were young Israelites taken captive by Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to train them for service in his palace, so he enrolled them in a rigorous education program.
Verse 4 tells us they were trained "in the language and literature of Babylon." Not just the sacred texts. Not just Jewish scriptures. They were immersed in Babylonian culture, philosophy, mythology, and literature.
This wasn't optional coursework. This was strategic. They needed to understand the world they were called to influence.
And here's what happened (verse 17): "God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom."
Read that again: All literature.
Not just the safe stuff. Not just the spiritually uplifting stuff. All of it.
God gave them unusual aptitude—supernatural insight combined with practical understanding—to navigate both the literature of Babylon and the literature of heaven.
They became fluent in two worlds. And that dual fluency made them powerful.
Why Christian Writers Need to Read Widely
Christian writers often limit themselves to Christian books. I get it. You want to be careful what you expose yourself to. You want to fill your mind with things that honor God.
But here's what happens when you only read Christian books:
Your writing starts to sound like everyone else's. You absorb the same phrases, the same structures, the same assumptions. Your voice gets lost in the echo chamber.
You don't understand your non-Christian readers. If you only read Christian books, you won't know how non-Christians think, what questions they're asking, what concerns keep them up at night.
You miss out on craft excellence. Some of the best-written books aren't necessarily fitting in Christian categories. You can learn pacing from a thriller writer, character development from a literary novelist, clarity from a journalist—all while maintaining your faith.
You become less effective at reaching people. Paul said he became "all things to all people" so that he might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22). How can you speak into a culture you don't understand?
Reading widely doesn't weaken your faith. It sharpens your effectiveness.
What "Reading Widely" Actually Means
So what should you be reading?
1. Read Inside and Outside Your Genre
If you write nonfiction, read fiction. If you write fiction, read memoir. If you write for adults, read children's books.
Every genre has something to teach you:
Fiction teaches you how to show instead of tell, how to build tension, how to create characters people care about.
Memoir teaches you vulnerability, structure, the arc of transformation.
Poetry teaches you precision with language, how to make every word count.
Children's books teach you simplicity and wonder.
Don't stay in your lane. Wander. You'll be surprised what you find.
2. Read Christian and General Market Books
I'm not suggesting you read anything that compromises your conscience. But I am suggesting that you don't limit yourself to the Christian best-seller list.
Read philosophy. Read history. Read science writing. Read literary fiction. Read journalism.
Will you encounter ideas that challenge you? Hopefully. That's how you grow. You'll also encounter craft at a level that pushes you to raise your own game.
And you'll discover that truth shows up in unexpected places—because real truth is God's truth, even when it's not labeled "Christian."
3. Read Diverse Voices
If you're white, read authors of color. If you're American, read international authors. If you're older, read younger authors. If you're from the suburbs, read someone who grew up in the city or on a farm.
Why? Because the only way to write well about the human experience is to understand that human experience is diverse. Different cultures, different perspectives, different ways of seeing the world.
The more voices you expose yourself to, the richer your own voice becomes.
4. Read Writing About Writing
Study craft. Read books by writers about the writing life:
Stephen King's On Writing
Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird
Amy Tan's Where the Past Begins
bell hooks' Remembered Rapture
Natalie Goldberg's The True Secret of Writing
These books will teach you technique, yes. But they'll also remind you that writing is hard for everyone, that struggle is part of the process, that you're not alone in this.
How to Pray for Unusual Aptitude
Here's where the spiritual and the practical meet.
Reading widely is the practical work. But prayer invites God into that work in a way that elevates it beyond mere technique.
As you read, pray:
"God, give me unusual aptitude for understanding literature and wisdom. Help me see what others miss. Teach me to discern what is true, what is beautiful, what is useful. Show me how to take what I'm learning and use it to serve the message You've given me."
Ask God to:
Sharpen your eye for good writing
Help you absorb craft principles without losing your voice
Give you wisdom to know what to apply and what to set aside
Protect your mind from anything that would pull you away from Him
When you combine the discipline of wide reading with the power of prayer, something supernatural happens. You don't just become a better writer. You become a different kind of writer—one who sees what others don't, who writes with a depth others can't access, who carries both human wisdom and divine insight.
The Invitation
I once heard an author say, "If you want to be a writer, you have two jobs: write and read. Everything else is optional."
I'd add one more: pray.
Pray that God would give you unusual aptitude. Pray that He'd guide you to the books you need to read. Pray that your reading would inform your writing in ways you couldn't orchestrate on your own.
Then pick up a book. One that challenges you. One that's outside your usual world. One that will stretch you. Make this a habit.
And watch what God does with it.
Your Reading Challenge
This week, I want you to choose one book to read that's outside your normal reading pattern. Could be:
A genre you don't usually read
An author from a different culture or background
A classic you've been meaning to get to
A craft book that will sharpen your skills
Then come back and tell me: What did you choose? What are you learning?
I'd love to hear from you.
Want to go deeper? In Week 3 of my Write Your Book course, we dive deep into reading strategies that fuel your writing. This is your last weekend to join us—doors close Monday, Jan. 26 at noon. Reserve your seat → jevonbolden.com/write-your-book.