Give Journaling A Try

Perhaps you've tried to keep journals in the past—prayer lists, irregular accounts of your spiritual failures and victories, letters to God about your deepest dreams. But while journaling can be an amazing tool to help us record God's transforming work in our heart, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the process or just not set aside time to journal. However, there some creative journaling techniques that have the ability to renew joy and intimacy within our relationship with God. So whether you're tired of your own humdrum attempts to journal, or if you've never given it a try because you don't think of yourself as a "writer," think again. Here are some fresh journaling ideas and you never know when you will come up with your own journaling idea!

Quotes Journal

Collecting quotes and thought-provoking observations from our favorite Christian writers is a powerful journaling technique that boosts our spiritual morale.

Look for quotes that illustrate the subjects you cover while studying the Bible. Began copying important quotes from readings into a reference journal. For example, when you read a chapter from the Bible, underlined the passages that stood out to you. Then on the left-hand side or page of your journal, copy the passages, and on the right-hand side or page, list the times in your life this same passage was true in your life.

If you're more of a reader than a writer, a quotes journal is a wonderful way for you to meditate on some of the amazing things you're learning in your spiritual walk. Whether you love Christian poetry, fiction, or theology, your journal can become a special repository for your favorite quotes and thoughts.

It's also been helpful to illustrate each quote in a memorable way. For example, for a sermon on Jesus' teaching that it's more difficult for a rich man to enter heaven than it is to squeeze a camel through the eye of a needle (See Matthew 19:24), you can glued a thin silver needle to the page to drive the point home.

After a few weeks of journaling this way, you'll find yourself at unexpected times of the day dwelling on the ideas and Scriptures you've copied into your journal. A quotes journal allows you to reinforce spiritual concepts and record inspirational ideas from the great minds of our faith.

Prayer Journal

Began to challenge yourself to examine your prayer life and to ask God to do things that are more in scale with His glory and power than our human thinking.

Write down some requests in your journal about everything from the speedy spiritual growth in you or those you know and care about, for a godly spouse, to lead 20 people to Christ. God will answer each prayer in an amazing way!

1 John 5:14-15 says, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. It's incredibly energizing to pray according to God's will and ask Him to do what He plans and promises.

God’s Creation Journal

If you enjoy the beauty of God's creation, one way to enjoy his handiwork even further is through a creation journal. Find pictures that express all kinds of natural elements, press leaves and flowers, or snap photos of different seasons and types of weather. Whether you gravitate to photographer Ansel Adam's black-and-white portraits or to colorful faces from every nation and tribe, a journal of awe-inspiring sights can drive your thoughts to the grandeur and glory of their Creator. Under each illustration, write down reasons why these scenes inspire you. You also can incorporate Scripture that speaks about God's workmanship.

Gratitude Journal

If you don't have a ton of free time, this is one of the easiest journals to keep. All you have to do each day is list three to five things for which you're thankful.

You may have seen this journaling concept on The Oprah Winfrey Show, but no one has more to be thankful for than a Christian! There's a huge difference between feeling "lucky" for your good fortune and realizing that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17).

Whether you want to remember the results of your faith, expand your prayer life, express your admiration of creation, or give thanks, there's a journaling style for you. So forget any daunting notions of what a journal is supposed to be. And once you find a way to journal that feeds your relationship with God, stick with it and share your ideas with others!