There are two things I really love – journaling and prayer. Oh.. and almond dream bites, so I guess that makes three.
I can’t imagine my life without journaling. Of course, if you were to read through them, you’d probably think I’d lost my ever-loving mind. Some of my greatest prayers are written down. Many of my hardest days have been processed through journaling. I’ve praised God. I’ve thrown fits. And I’ve even doodled a time or two.
When you read the Psalms you get a front row seat to some of David’s greatest prayers, praises, fears, and even some fit throwing. And even after all that fit throwing, God still called him a man after His own heart.
A friend of mine asked me the other day to tell her more about the power of prayer journaling, so I decided to share with you too.
I’m sure you may have some other ideas, but these are two of my favorite ways to mix journaling and prayer together.
Journaling Through Scripture
I love to pick a specific scripture and journal through it. For example, I’ve been working on memorizing Habakkuk 3:19: The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. My friend Jammie sent me a devotional one morning that just rocked my world, so I decided to dig deeper into that verse.
My next step was to look up surefooted in the dictionary since it’s not really a word I use it in my everyday vocabulary – or ever for that matter. (I dare you to use it in a sentence twice today.) Then I journaled through how that specific scripture applies to my life in the moment regarding my struggle with food. Here’s a journal entry from September 17, 2018:
When I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and His TRUTH, I will not stumble or slip. I can remain confident and competent in WHOSE I am. When food attempts to become my source, I choose to remain surefooted. I am whole. I choose beauty and redemption. Yes!
I usually write it in my journal at least once a day now as I try to memorize it. I also carry a copy with me in the car and have one taped to my computer screen at my desk.
Another way I so this is through the Abide app. Each morning they provide a new meditation that they read out loud and process through with you. I’ll write the scripture out then process through how the Lord is speaking me to through that verse. I’ve been using that app for about two months and I love it. You can get a free version and a paid version.
Asking Specific Questions
Ohhh…. this is my favorite. I love to ask God questions and it turns out if I shut up long enough, He’ll actually answer. Here are a few questions I love to ask Him.
Who do you want to be for me today?
Is there someone specific you want me to pray for?
What do you love about me?
What do you think about this option?
I highly recommend everyone ask him the first question. I can promise His answer will melt your heart.
Sometimes we get this idea in our heads that God doesn’t want to have a personal conversation with us. That’s so far from the truth. He LOVES to talk with us. We, pointing the finger to myself, just have to be quiet long enough to listen.
[ctt template=”5″ link=”Vw70f” via=”yes” ]There’s something magical about adding journaling and prayer together! [/ctt]
Our conversations with God don’t always have to be serious either. This morning I’ll be writing in my journal asking Him to show favor with the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card game. He loves that I come to Him with everything. He’s my Father. He’s your Father.
God longs to converse with us, and sometimes the best way to do that is to quiet our minds and write out our thoughts, our prayers, our requests, our praises, and even our complaints. He doesn’t judge us for our feelings. He wants to process through them with us.