Real Writing in an AI World
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain”—Psalm 127:1 (ESV)
I need not tell you—the arrival of AI has changed how we work and even how we live. I’ll admit, I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon. Only in recent months did I reluctantly begin testing it. Honestly, what I write here today may change over time. But I want to have an honest conversation, so here goes.
At first, my skepticism seemed justified. The responses I got were clunky, stiff, and unimpressive. They clearly sounded artificial. But as I refined my prompts, the results became more polished—and increasingly impressive.
Yet I began to notice something deeper: AI wasn’t only producing content; it was also shaping me. Like all technology, it isn’t neutral. It forms us, for good or for ill. After months of experimenting, I thought I’d share my process of writing with you, for transparency’s sake. You may or may not agree, which is fine, but I did want to be honest.
Tools, Not Masters
As with all technology, AI must be seen for what it is: a tool, not a master. Just because something is new doesn’t mean we accept it uncritically. As Christians, we ask: Does this help me glorify God and serve His people better? What will I do and what can I “delegate”?
No matter how advanced technology becomes, it can never replace the wonder of being human. God has made our bodies and minds with a wisdom beyond anything man can replicate (Psalm 139:14). Even our best inventions fall short, and sin can twist even noble intentions.
That’s why we must resist at least two dangers—either letting technology rule us or imagining we are like God because of what it enables us to do. Scripture reminds us there is one sovereign Lord who rules all things: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3).
Unless He is the one building our ministries, it is in vain (Psalm 127:1). AI may be powerful, but it cannot replace our humanity—and it certainly cannot replace God. In His kindness, He has given us tools for our time, but they must remain under His rule.
Working With a Tool, Not Becoming Its Slave
As I began using AI more regularly, I noticed subtle temptations in my heart—the temptation to play God. It felt a little like having a genie in a bottle, ready to whip up whatever I wanted.
Craft a lesson plan for my son’s literature course? Done.
Create a plan to declutter my house? You got it.
Research my favorite blogs in five seconds? No problem.
Draft a 1500-word blog post with applications and action points? Yes, please!
The ease was intoxicating. But I also felt my brain disengaging. Why think hard if a machine could do it for me?
AI also began feeding my perfectionism. Its ability to endlessly “improve” my writing could trap me for hours. Eventually, I had to step back and ask: Is this truly necessary?
To counteract this, I set boundaries by:
defining the most important goals for a piece,
limiting how long I spend refining,
and pausing to ask God to check my heart.
AI can always keep suggesting improvements if I wanted. But it is up to me to learn when to stop with “good enough.”
How I Use AI to Write
I began using AI to steward my time more wisely, streamlining tasks that consumed unnecessary hours so I could focus my energy on what most needs my direct attention.
To illustrate, here’s how I’ve used AI in creating blog posts like this. This isn’t a rigid system. Depending on the topic, I use AI differently. I mix and match the following prompts as I craft a piece.
Because AI is atheistic and I am not, I am careful to specify my particular bent. Though this does not eliminate all problems, it definitely has helped to keep the responses much more aligned and appropriate. I still need to go back and evaluate, but it’s not far from where I want to land.
1. Research
One benefit of AI is the time it saves. When I research Scripture or counseling topics, I already have favorite sites and authors. But searching them all manually takes hours.
So I ask AI to sift those sites, distill the information, and provide a bibliography. This gives me a preview list to work from. Once I have a shortlist, I read or listen to the resources directly, taking notes in my own words, and adding my own insights. I never take AI’s word for it because it can be wrong. This also ensures what I share is aligned with Scripture and trustworthy.
Prompt: Research [topic] using only my approved sources [list your own]. Summarize the key points clearly for a Reformed Christian audience, highlight Scripture-aligned insights I can use in my writing, and include the specific sources and links you referenced for easy checking.
2. Focusing on a Topic
Sometimes, after my research my mind is buzzing with ideas—but I still face “blank page syndrome.” The issue here isn’t a lack of ideas but too many!
In these moments, I ask AI to help sharpen my focus by suggesting possible angles. I like to ask for 3-5 and then choose the one that feel most relevant and faithful. That way, the choice remains mine.
Prompt: Given these general ideas or goals, please suggest 3-5 possible topics I could focus on, framed in a way that would be relevant and helpful for a Reformed Christian audience.
3. Order and Outline
Once I know my topic, the next challenge is ordering. Because I want this blog to have some consistency, I designed a template for each post that eliminates some of the stress. I tweak it to fit but this provides a general starting point.
With my template and my content in hand, I ask AI to help me generate a draft outline of my notes. It suggests appropriate places in the post I can include those ideas.
Prompt: With [these notes] and my blogging template [Introduction, Concept, Application, Closing, Blessing], please suggest a clear, logical outline to help me organize my ideas.
Now it’s time to write!
4. Writing
To make the writing more personal, one of my favorite prompts is to ask AI to interview me on a topic. I take these questions and journal the answers by hand, praying over my words so I can include my own voice in them.
Prompt: Act as an interviewer and ask me thoughtful, reflective questions about [topic] so I can journal and respond prayerfully from my own heart and perspective.
I’ve enjoyed this because in the process of writing my responses, my post begins to form and develop, sometimes in ways I wouldn’t have come up with myself.
5. Editing
Finally, I use AI as an editor. I ask it to flag jargon, unclear phrases, or assumptions I may not notice, and to suggest warmer, more accessible wording—without changing my tone or theology.
Prompt: Please edit this draft for clarity, accessibility, and readability, flagging jargon, unclear phrases, or hidden assumptions, and suggest alternate wording where needed. Keep the tone warm, personal, and faithful to Scripture for a Reformed audience, while maintaining the overall word count of each section.
This has been one of the most valuable uses for me. With repeated uses of this prompt, AI gives me a mirror, helping me notice recurring habits or blind spots.
Why This Matters for Ministry
For ministry leaders, balance is critical. AI can save time, surface blind spots, or spark creativity. But if we let it think for us—or worse, speak as us—we risk losing the humanity through which Christ ministers.
AI cannot embody gentleness, compassion, or wise counsel. Those come only through Christ, working in and through His people. AI may assist, but it cannot replace prayerful reflection, Scripture study, and discernment.
I hope by outlining my process, you can see the deeper dialogue—not only between me and AI, but more importantly, between me and God as I write.
A Final Word of Caution
I don’t know what the future holds, but it seems like AI is here to stay for awhile. As with all tools in the hands of sinful people, they can go awry.
So if you are also dabbling with AI, I encourage you to set boundaries. Decide what you will and will not delegate to this tool. For example, I’ve chosen that some things—like reflection questions for our church’s sermons—are mine to write, with no AI assistance.
I am just starting to learn about how to use AI so I may have to update this post in the future. Again, I use it so that I can steward my time better. Used wisely, it can save hours. Used unwisely, it can feed laziness and pride.
That’s why I hold it with an open hand. I know it cannot replicate OakHaven’s personal touch, nor can it replace the care of Christ through His people. That sacred trust can never be given to technology.
Transparency matters to me. That’s why I want you to know: at OakHaven, every article, lesson, and resource is carefully considered, prayed over, and measured against God’s Word. While I sometimes use these tools as an aid, the heart, conviction, and teaching you find here are rooted in my study of Scripture and my calling to serve. The words you read are mine.