What’s a prayer journal? Can it assist your prayer life? Sure! Study in regards to the energy of writing down your prayers to God.
For those who’re questioning precisely what a prayer journal is, and the way it not solely works however helps you in your prayer life, then you definately’re in the appropriate place.
A prayer journal is a device that you should use, within the type of a pocket book or diary that serves as a spot so that you can write down your prayers to God.
In a method, you may image a prayer journal to be the equal of a spoken prayer however in written phrases, nearly like a letter to God.
There are a number of other ways wherein you can also make use of a prayer journal that will help you develop in your prayer life.
Maybe essentially the most lovely a part of preserving a prayer journal is having the ability to look again in any respect the belongings you prayed for and the way God has labored in your life and answered these prayers in numerous methods.
As individuals, we are sometimes fast to neglect God’s goodness, and what He has carried us via. A prayer journal serves as a continuing reminder of the place you as soon as have been and God’s devoted character, and steadfast love in these troubled occasions.
The Israelites needed to study this themselves, in Deuteronomy 8:2, “And also you shall bear in mind the entire method that the Lord your God has led you these forty years within the wilderness, that he would possibly humble you, testing you to know what was in your coronary heart, whether or not you’d preserve his commandments or not.”
The Advantages of Prayer Journaling & How It Can Assist Your Prayer Life
1. Targeted Prayer
It’s really easy to float off if you end up praying, whether or not that’s early within the morning or late at evening, typically we will discover ourselves not as engaged in prayer. This may be on account of tiredness, distractions, or a mode the place we merely repeat the identical factor day after day.
When you’re writing down your prayers, it requires you to be extra current, and intentional within the phrases that you’re selecting to jot down. It lets you suppose, and never rush via your prayer so as to go on to the subsequent factor.
2. Intentional Prayer
As a result of prayer journaling usually includes prompts, this lets you be extra intentional together with your time in prayer.
Relying on the form of prompts that you just select to include, this may problem you to consider the issues that you could give God thanks for, the methods wherein you’ve got seen Him work, and the completely different traits of God that you’re studying about.
Not solely that, nevertheless it additionally extends to prayer for others, as you may embody issues like individuals who it is advisable ask God that will help you forgive, those that are dealing with powerful occasions, or who will not be believers.
There is a chance for intentional prayer on the subject of prayer journaling.
3. Serves as a sworn statement
Typically we expect that testimonies are solely wanted to indicate others the work that God has executed, however many occasions we’re in want of a reminder of who God is, and has been all through completely different seasons of our lives.
One of many methods we will preserve monitor of that’s via prayer journaling. We will see how God modified our hearts and the methods wherein He labored.
It’s so simple to neglect, and thru prayer journaling, not solely does it function an incredible reminder to ourselves, however it is usually one thing that we will convey up in dialog to others, as a sworn statement of God’s grace.
Begin Prayer Journaling
It may be simple to overthink prayer journaling, however it’s very easy to get began. Bear in mind, that is your time of prayer, and also you get to speak to your Heavenly Father, so make it personable, as a result of it’s all about your relationship with Him.
There are some things that make prayer journaling lots simpler. The primary is to discover a place the place you may write every day. It’s good to develop the behavior, and discovering a constant place is usually an effective way to construct consistency.
Secondly, attempt to discover a time that you just dedicate to praying. It’s not all the time simple to discover a constant time, particularly when life could be a little unpredictable, however looking for a time when you already know you should have some uninterrupted time makes a world of a distinction.
Three, deal with your prayer to God, begin with His title, and do not forget that that is the place you may speak to Him. There aren’t any guidelines on how lengthy or quick your prayer must be, merely write about what involves thoughts, and share what’s going on. You may ask God for steerage the place you want it, forgiveness the place you’ve got sinned, and for His continued energy and safety.
The Sorts of Prayer Journals to Select From
Earlier than you get into prayer journaling, it’s best to know that there are a couple of kinds of prayer journals that you could select from.
The beauty of prayer journaling is that it is extremely customizable, which suggests that you could make it as private as potential, and may select between varied completely different sorts of journals.
It is very important be aware, although it’s enjoyable to be artistic together with your prayer journal, the principle level of it’s communion with God. The explanation that is essential to say is as a result of it’s simple to get caught in mundane particulars.
For those who aren’t capable of afford a extremely fancy journal, you don’t have to permit that to cease you from beginning. You probably have unfastened items of paper, an previous pocket book from college, or a plain guide to jot down in, you’ve got all it is advisable get began.
Don’t permit an absence of glitter pens, or cute equipment to cease you from rising your relationship with God via prayer. That’s in the end what He appears to be like at, our hearts and our phrases to Him, not the handwriting that they have been written in.
So, with out additional ado, listed here are just some kinds of journals which might be widespread.
1. Hardback or paperback notebooks
These are most likely the commonest approach to begin a prayer journal. You probably have a pocket book with lined pages or perhaps a bullet journal, you may simply begin writing out your prayers in it. You may even add your personal creative concepts afterward if you want to create a scrapbook form of prayer journal.
2. Prepared-made Prayer Journals
You may as well discover a big number of pre-made prayer journals, particularly designed that will help you preserve a prayer journal. These journals usually have prompts written within them to provide you concepts on what to wish for, and may usually be accompanied by a verse of the day, a problem, or some form of encouragement or inspiration.
3. Printable Prayer Journals
Just like ready-made prayer journals, there is a gigantic quantity of printable content material on the web proper now, together with many prayer journals to select from. You may simply discover printable prayer journals from web sites like Etsy which let you see the form of pages which might be contained within the prayer journal and as soon as you buy it, you may print out as many as you need and mix them right into a prayer journal folder or binder.
4. Digital Prayer Journals
Know-how has grown immensely over time. In case you are not somebody who wants a bodily pen and paper and also you get pleasure from writing on an iPad or gadget, then a digital prayer journal could also be a great match for you. These are additionally available on-line and may be downloaded onto your gadget. Many iPad customers get pleasure from journaling on their gadgets with a stylus which provides the identical phantasm as writing in a traditional pocket book. The upside is that there’s a lot of alternative for personalisation, and to simply erase something if wanted.
Concepts for Each day Prayer Journal Entries
For those who’re not precisely positive what to jot down about in your prayer journal, you may learn the article on prayer journal prompts right here, to provide you some extra in-depth concepts.
However simply to begin you off, there are some things that you could incorporate into your prayer journal, such because the ACTS prayer methodology. This merely serves as a information or define in your prayer.
ACTS is the abbreviation for adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. Here’s a quick clarification of every of these factors.
Adoration – There isn’t a one like our God. He deserves all the honour and glory, and it’s a privilege that we get to glorify Him for who He’s. After we come to God in prayer via adoration, we’re acknowledging who He’s, and taking a stance of humility as we reward Him for all He’s and Has executed.
Confession – An essential a part of our prayer life is that it serves as a method for us to admit our sins to God, and to say sorry. God calls us to take action, as a substitute of being detached to our sin, a real brokenness over our sin grows us in Christlikeness, and in humility in direction of God, growing our gratitude for His grace.
Thanksgiving – It may be simple to get slowed down with the troubles of life that we neglect how a lot now we have to be thankful for. If now we have air in our lungs at present, it is sufficient to give God thanks, but in addition helps us domesticate hearts of gratitude moderately than discontentment.
Supplication – Lastly, we will convey our prayer requests to God in prayer. We will ask Him for steerage in a sure scenario, to satisfy the wants of others, or to wish for any scenario that’s going down in your life, the lives of others, or on this planet round you.
That’s the primary groundwork for getting began on a prayer journal, it is extremely easy, and doesn’t need to be sophisticated in any respect! One of the best factor to do is get began, and you will note the fruit of a rising and constant prayer time with God.
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