People often ask me why I write.

Conventional wisdom says this is the worst possible time to enter the world of publishing. Book sales are at an all-time low, despite the fact that over one million books were published in 2009.

The reality is that if you write because you want to be rich and famous, then you’d better find another career. The Debbie Macombers and J.K. Rowlings are the exception, not the rule.

Finally, with the proliferation of computers and word processing software, most everyone now fancies themselves a writer. The huge volume of submissions decreases the chances of being published by a traditional publisher (vs. print-on-demand or self-publishing).

So why do I write?

For me, writing is an extension of teaching. The more I learn, the more I want to share what I’ve learned. Writing provides another way to communicate precious truths—not to brag, but because I’m excited for everyone else to benefit, too!

Martin Luther described evangelism as “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” This is also a fitting description of how I view writing. I first wrote to share the crumbs I found. Those crumbs satisfied my deepest hunger. Then they multiplied into slices and the slices have become loaves. How can I hoard what I am learning when other people are hungering as well?

I decided a long time ago that I would write as long as God gave me something to write. Whether a traditional publisher chose to publish the work was up to Him. It happens that a traditional Christian publisher is publishing my first book, One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God (Revell Books, October 2010). Another Christian publisher will be releasing two children’s picture books co-authored with Crystal Bowman (Standard Publishing, 2011). God is showing me that my job is to use the gifts He has given me and to trust Him for the results.

I don’t write to impress others or to become rich and famous.

I write because I cannot not write.

Why do YOU do what you do?