How To Begin A Prayer Journal

Use these easy steps with prompts, suggestions, and templates to discover ways to begin a prayer journal to deepen your relationship with the Lord.

Why Ought to You Begin A Prayer Journal?

No prayer is ever wasted and also you actually don’t want a prayer journal to speak to God (that’s a free reward given to all of us!) however I’ve discovered it so extremely useful in my very own prayer life.

I battle with wandering ideas, long-winded rabbit trails, and all types of different distractions (squirrel!) once I’m praying in my head. Even with one of the best of intentions, my “quiet time” with the Lord turns right into a wild goose chase the place I find yourself making grocery lists as a result of I considered a last-minute addition and scrolling by way of Fb as a result of I picked up my cellphone to search for a Bible verse.

Once I write down my ideas, it helps me:

• keep targeted on what I actually need to speak to God about.
• really feel extra linked to Him as I write. When my ideas are bouncing round, it’s robust to really feel deeply linked to Jesus. Once I’m setting issues apart to journal, I can extra simply quiet my ideas and repair my eyes on Him.
• course of my ideas and emotions extra totally.
• document my story – my ideas, emotions, circumstances, struggles, and victories. It’s so useful to have the ability to look again on the place I’ve been and what God has introduced me by way of and see what number of prayers He has answered alongside the best way. I can’t wait to share these with my son as he grows as much as inform him all about God’s faithfulness in our lives!

How To Begin Your Prayer Journal

Step 1 – Decide Your Journal & Provides

I’m at present utilizing this Talia discbound journal from Amazon, however for years, I simply used no matter low cost college-ruled clean spiral pocket book I may get my fingers on.

Talia Discbound Pocket book, C…Store on Amazon

Don’t really feel like you need to do something fancy or costly. Crucial a part of prayer journaling is doing it.

I just like the disc-bound journal as a result of I can:

• Lay it flat. This one is a massive deal to me. With notebooks, I at all times selected spiral sure as a result of the rest would flop closed on me whereas I used to be writing, which drove me nuts. This one seamlessly stays open for me whereas I write!
• Add/take away/rearrange pages in my journal (even when they aren’t the identical dimension because the pocket book). I like to have the ability to add significant issues like printed pages, Bible verses on index playing cards, Bible research, postcards, invites, prayer lists, and sermon notes to the identical pocket book. (I take advantage of the TUL discbound gap punch so as to add printed pages).
• Fold over onto itself, taking on much less house. I don’t want a full desk house to put out all the splayed-out journal. Identical to a spiral journal, it folds over (and the discs don’t get in the best way almost as a lot as a 3-ring binder).
• Use extra space on every web page for writing. The disc holes don’t lengthen far into the web page, which supplies me extra room to jot down.

Any pen or pencil and paper will do, however, after attempting nearly each pen and pencil on the market, I’ve discovered pens I actually love. I choose actually fantastic strains in my writing so I normally use these ultra-fine black Pilot pens for many of my writing.

Once I need to add a splash of shade, I pull out my set of Staedtler Fineliner pens.

Step 2 – Decide Your Prayer Journaling Template

You’re welcome to incorporate no matter sections in your private prayer journal as you’d like, however I extremely suggest utilizing my Prayer Journal Bundle. It’s what I take advantage of myself and it’s done-for-you and able to print to start out utilizing in your quiet occasions ASAP.

If you’re simply beginning out with prayer journaling, don’t overcomplicate issues. Writing even one sentence a day can begin an exquisite behavior! Decide a couple of sections you’re most drawn to, begin there, and add or take them away as you’d like.

I’ve discovered that sure sections are extra helpful in sure seasons. Once I’m scuffling with my identification and confidence in Christ, I be certain that to incorporate day by day reminders of my identification in Christ. In different seasons, I focus extra on the names of God.

Listed here are some strategies for sections to incorporate:

• Date – That is actually useful for flipping again and seeing how God has reworked you over time – I at all times neglect dates except they’re written down!
• Gratitude/Answered Prayers/Reward – There are so many advantages to beginning your day with thankfulness in your coronary heart and in your prayer journal. It’s an exquisite method to acknowledge God working in your life and expertise extra peace, pleasure, and contentment. If you happen to get caught, I’ve 31 gratitude journal prompts right here that may assist get your artistic juices flowing.
• Confession – I haven’t seen many prayer journals embody this part and I’m not completely certain why as a result of confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness is such an necessary a part of connecting with God.
• Bible verses – Clearly, having God’s Phrase as part of your prayer time is necessary! Selecting to repair your thoughts on the Reality is so precious. If you happen to’re undecided the place to start out, I’ve lists of Bible verses on all types of subjects you possibly can look by way of to search out one thing that matches what you’re going by way of proper now.
• Prayer Requests – I prefer to hold a day by day checklist of prayer requests which can be on my coronary heart at that second, in addition to ongoing lists of prayer requests which can be extra long-term (like for missionaries, Compassion Worldwide kids we assist, therapeutic, our nation, and so on). I included each ongoing and day by day lists within the Prayer Journal Bundle.
• Your Id In Christ – If you’re scuffling with low self-confidence or low vanity, it is a great part to incorporate. I embody over 30 examples of your identification in Christ within the journaling bundle, however you can too use these Bible Verses in your identification to jot down your individual.
• Traits of God/Names of God – Understanding who you might be is necessary however realizing who God is is much more necessary. Studying the names of God has been so good for me to be taught extra about God’s character and studying to acknowledge His voice.
• Feelings Examine-In – I’m a giant feeler so that is at all times a vital part for me. Some days it’s a fast phrase or two and generally it’s paragraphs of my processing my emotions with the Lord.
• Journal Prompts – Feeling caught and probably not certain what to jot down about? Pre-written journal prompts might be actually useful in getting your ideas rolling. I’ve 10 journal prompts in your quiet time right here that you simply’re welcome to print and use for your self.
• Area To Share – Give your self house simply to share your ideas and emotions with God. Generally I write phrases, generally I draw footage that come to thoughts, and generally I draw lyrics to hymns or worship songs on my thoughts – something that makes you are feeling linked to the Lord.
• Area to Pay attention – Do not forget that conversations are two-sided (I point out it as a result of I usually neglect!), so don’t neglect to depart house so that you can take heed to the Lord and write down something you hear from Him. If you wish to be taught extra concerning the thought of listening to the Lord, a earlier pastor wrote a very inspiring e book known as “Extra” on the subject that actually helped deepen my very own relationship with God.

Extra: When a Little Little bit of …Store on Amazon

Please don’t really feel like it’s essential embody all of these directly! All the strategies above are sections I’ve included in my prayer journal in a single season of my life or one other, however by no means all on the identical time.

Step 3 – Decide A Day by day Prayer Journaling Time

Please, don’t skip this step.

If prayer journaling is new for you, it takes intentionality to start out a brand new behavior. It’s really easy to undergo your day like regular, climb into mattress, after which understand – “Eek! I meant to journal, however forgot!” We’re creatures of behavior and it’s really easy to do!

Suggestions For Creating A New Behavior

1. Decide a time that works nicely in your schedule.

I extremely suggest very first thing within the morning to start out your break day on the correct foot, however there are seasons of life that don’t make that very simple (once I had a new child, I didn’t even know what time “very first thing within the morning” meant and first-morning naptime labored a lot better throughout these months!).

I prefer to allocate no less than 20 minutes to essentially give myself time for my ideas to cease racing and to essentially dig into some deep dialog with the Lord, however begin the place you might be! Even 5 minutes is a good funding into your relationship with God.

2. Set a reminder alarm.

While you’re beginning a brand new behavior of any form, it’s laborious to recollect to do this new factor, even when now we have one of the best of intentions, as a result of it’s out of your routine.

I prefer to set an alarm on my cellphone to go off on the time I picked as an additional reminder to assist me comply with by way of on my good intentions.

3. Pair your new behavior with a longtime behavior.

Will you do your prayer journaling whilst you drink your morning espresso? After your exercise? Earlier than breakfast? after your alarm goes off? Proper after dropping your children off in school?

Connecting this new behavior of prayer journaling with one thing you already do recurrently is simply one other method that will help you construct this new behavior into your life long-term.

4. Consistency is healthier than perfection.

Apply, follow, follow. Attempt your greatest to sit down down together with your prayer journal daily, even when it’s only for a couple of minutes.

Give your self grace that you simply gained’t at all times have the “excellent” quiet occasions. One thing is at all times higher than nothing and the extra constant you might be, the extra this behavior of prayer journaling will simply really feel like a part of your regular life.

And that’s the objective! Connecting with the Lord must be a daily, constant behavior – in each season, in each emotion, in each schedule change.

It is among the absolute best methods to remain rooted in His Phrase and in His love, taking a look at life with religion eyes.

Rejoice at all times, pray with out ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for that is the need of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Step 4 – Begin Journaling!

That’s all there may be to it! You’ve got your supplies, you might have a primary construction in your time with pattern journal prompts…now, all there may be left to do is write!

On my greatest days, I like to create a peaceful setting for myself to prayer journal – a candle, some instrumental worship music, a clear house to jot down (generally outdoor if it’s good!).

However please don’t suppose that’s a prerequisite for prayer journaling! You’re going to have imperfect days. Some days on this season of my life, I’m journaling two phrases at a time sitting in a pile of Legos with a bouncy, chatty toddler. You may adapt prayer journaling to suit into any season of your life!

Prayer journaling constantly is a lot extra necessary than journaling completely.

Embrace your present season and permit your self the pliability to make it give you the results you want. The objective is to get within the behavior of connecting with the Lord and deepening your relationship with Him, it doesn’t matter what that appears like particularly for you.

Completely happy prayer journaling!