Sacred and Wild Journal
A Journal of Christian Faith, Art, and Poetry
Our Vision
Sacred and Wild exists to celebrate the goodness of God through truth, beauty, and wonder.
We believe that Jesus Christ is not only the Savior of souls but also the Lord over all creation—the Author of all that is good, beautiful, and true. In a world often marked by noise and haste, we hope to cultivate a quieter place: a journal where readers can slow down, marvel at God's creation, reflect on Scripture, and delight in faithful creativity.
We publish work that points toward hope, humility, and the beauty of the Kingdom of God. Whether through poetry, story, memoir, reflection, visual art, or photography, we seek pieces that help readers notice God's presence in both extraordinary and ordinary moments.
Our prayer is that every page encourages worship, thoughtful reflection, and a deeper affection for Christ.
Who We Are
We are Christians who believe the Bible is God's inspired Word and that Jesus Christ is Lord.
We value theological faithfulness, artistic excellence, and genuine humanity. We believe good art tells the truth—not by pretending life is easy, but by revealing hope even in suffering.
We love forests and cities, mountains and neighborhoods, children and grandparents, laughter and tears, old hymns and new songs, careful craftsmanship and childlike wonder. We believe all creation ultimately points to its Creator.
We welcome both established and emerging artists and writers who desire to glorify God with their gifts.
Who We Are Not
Sacred and Wild is not primarily a platform for political commentary, culture wars, denominational debate, or theological controversy.
We are not interested in work that exists merely to persuade, argue, or provoke.
Likewise, we are not looking for sentimental writing that avoids the realities of suffering, nor work that glorifies despair without hope.
We seek honest work rooted in grace.
While contributors may come from various Christian traditions, all accepted work should be consistent with historic Christian faith and centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Editorial Values
When reading submissions, we continually ask:
Is it true?
Is it beautiful?
Does it cultivate wonder?
Does it point our hearts toward Christ?
Is it crafted with care?
Will it remain meaningful years from now?
If the answer is yes, we're interested.
Above all, we hope every piece leaves the reader with a greater sense of wonder. Whether through beauty, honesty, laughter, grief, or quiet reflection, we want readers to leave noticing God more than when they arrived.
We believe wonder begins with paying attention. The world is filled with quiet reminders of God's goodness—a child's laugh, birdsong at dawn, worn Bibles, old hymns, garden paths, ordinary meals, faithful friendships, and countless acts of unseen grace. We hope Sacred and Wild helps readers recover the lost art of noticing, inviting them to slow down, delight in God's world, and worship Him.
Accepted submissions may receive minor editorial edits for spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and consistency. Any substantive edits affecting content, meaning, or style will always be discussed with the contributor before publication.
Our Editorial Philosophy
We believe editors are stewards of the stories, prayers, poems, and works of art entrusted to them. Our responsibility is to preserve each contributor’s unique voice while thoughtfully preparing every accepted work for publication with care, excellence, and respect.
God is the Master Gardener. We simply have the privilege of tending the garden He entrusts to us each year.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit only original, unpublished work unless otherwise noted.
Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
We believe excellence is an act of worship. We encourage contributors to submit work that has been thoughtfully revised with patience, care, and humility.
Contributors retain copyright to their work while granting Sacred and Wild first publication rights.
Sacred and Wild is an independent publication made possible through a community of writers who desire to encourage others through writing that is thoughtful, truthful, and filled with wonder. While accepted submissions are not financially compensated, each selected contributor will receive a complimentary copy of the journal, a bookmark, and recognition within the publication. We consider every contribution a gift and are committed to honoring each selected work through careful editing, beautiful presentation, and sincere gratitude. Our hope is that each volume becomes a timeless collection of praise, reflection, and faithful voices that encourages readers to notice the beauty of God in both the sacred and the ordinary.
Poetry
Length: Up to 60 lines (up to 3 poems per submission)
We love poetry that notices the world God has made. Poems may be lyrical, contemplative, narrative, or devotional. We are drawn to fresh language, memorable imagery, and emotional honesty.
We especially enjoy poems about creation, family, prayer, grace, everyday holiness, seasons, hope, wonder, and redemption.
Help us notice God's world through beautiful language.
Click here to read a few examples.
Reflections
Length: 300–1,200 words (up to 2 reflections per submission)
Short, thoughtful pieces that help readers notice God's presence in ordinary life.
We are especially drawn to moments of spiritual attentiveness—encounters with beauty, family, work, creation, grief, joy, or the quiet rhythms of everyday life that awaken gratitude and wonder. Rather than teaching a lesson, invite readers into an experience that gently points them toward Christ.
A reflection is a moment.
Memoirs
Length: 1,000–2,500 words (up to 2 memoirs per submission)
Personal stories that reveal God's work through ordinary or extraordinary seasons of life. We value vulnerability, humility, and thoughtful reflection more than dramatic events.
Rather than simply recounting what happened, invite readers into what God taught you.
A reflection is a moment, and a memoir is a season of life.
Short Stories
Length: 1,500–4,000 words (up to 2 stories per submission)
Stories shaped by Christian imagination.
Faith may be explicit or quietly present, but it should arise naturally rather than feeling forced. We enjoy stories that reveal redemption, beauty, sacrifice, forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.
Excellent storytelling always comes first.
A short story is an imagined narrative that reveals truth through imagination.
Original Prayers
Length: 150–500 words (up to 3 prayers per submission)
Written prayers for individuals, families, churches, and everyday life.
These may express praise, confession, lament, thanksgiving, or intercession. We appreciate language that is beautiful without becoming overly ornate.
Prayers are from the heart and a conversation with the Lord.
Scripture Meditations
Length: 500–1,200 words (up to 2 meditations per submission)
Thoughtful reflections centered on a passage of Scripture.
Rather than academic exposition, we seek devotional writing that helps readers slow down, observe the text carefully, and respond in worship.
Help us see Christ in Scripture with fresh eyes and a worshipful heart.
Historical Profiles
Length: 1,000–2,000 words (up to 2 profiles per submission)
Profiles of Christians whose lives continue to encourage the Church.
We welcome stories of missionaries, artists, scientists, pastors, hymn writers, ordinary saints, and faithful believers whose lives reflected Christ.
Rather than offering a simple biography, help readers understand why their witness still matters today.
Introduce us to faithful saints whose lives still encourage the Church today.
Visual Art
Submit up to 5 original works.
Accepted media include painting, drawing, printmaking, illustration, mixed media, digital art, sculpture, fiber art, and other visual forms.
We are drawn to work that reflects beauty, craftsmanship, and thoughtful engagement with faith, creation, or the human experience.
Show us beauty that helps us notice the Creator through His creation, His people, and His redemption.
Photography
Submit up to 10 original photographs.
We welcome landscape, wildlife, documentary, architecture, portraiture, macro, and everyday-life photography.
Images should invite contemplation and wonder, revealing glimpses of God's world through careful observation and artistic composition.
Help us see God's world with fresh eyes through moments of beauty, wonder, and everyday grace.
Children's Artwork
Ages: 12 and under
Submit: Up to 5 original works
We believe children often notice God's world with a sense of wonder that adults long to recover. Their artwork reminds us to see creation with fresh eyes.
We welcome original drawings, paintings, mixed media, collages, and other handmade artwork inspired by God's creation, Scripture, family, everyday life, or the beauty of the world around them.
Submissions should be the child's own work. Parents or guardians may submit artwork on their behalf.
Remind us to see God's world with the wonder of a child.
What We're Looking For
We love work that is:
Christ-centered without being preachy.
Beautiful without being sentimental.
Honest without becoming cynical.
Hopeful without ignoring suffering.
Thoughtfully crafted.
Faithful to Scripture.
Filled with wonder.
Timeless rather than trendy.
Attentive to God's presence in ordinary life.
What We're Not Looking For
At this time, we generally do not publish:
Previously published work
AI-generated writing or artwork
Political advocacy
Polemics or theological debates
Devotionals that primarily lecture rather than invite reflection
Work containing explicit violence, profanity, or sexual content
Writing that mocks, belittles, or demeans others
Work whose primary purpose is self-promotion
Thank you for considering Sacred and Wild.
We look forward to seeing how God has gifted you to tell the truth beautifully.
May every submission be an offering of worship to the Lord, from whom every good and perfect gift comes.
