In Psalm 62:8, the author talks about ‘pouring out your hearts to God.’ One way to do this is through prayer. Some Christians find that keeping a spiritual journal also helps them in expressing their thoughts and feelings. If you aren’t exactly sure what a spiritual journal is, then this is your guide! Read on to learn what a spiritual journal, how to keep a spiritual journal and finding some great tips on helping you get the most out of completing a spiritual journal yourself.
What is a Spiritual Journal?
Much the same as a regular journal, a spiritual journal is a tool that used to help you focus on the things that God has done for you. As you reflect on these things and record them, you can ponder these thoughts and see the effect of God’s hand more clearly in your life. It will help you be more thankful for the blesses you have received, as well as give you something to look back on during hard times. A spiritual journal is a powerful tool that will help you on your spiritual journey.
What to record in a Spiritual Journal?
As a spiritual journal is written for you and God, there really no need to worry about being a good writer having proper grammar or even styling your words correctly. Write when you are inspired, record your struggles and successes, your fears, and joys or lessons learned your way, in your time. There is no such thing as ‘doing it wrong.’
Some things to record in your Spiritual Journal are:
- Things that come to mind as you are studying the Bible
- Observations of things that are happening around you
- Prayers that you have prayed
- Insights you have had
- Patterns that have been emerging in your life
- Inspirations you have had
- Dreams
- Sudden epiphanies
- Poetry
- Art – draw pictures of inspirational things in your journal
- Special things that others have written, or spoken
- Things that have surprised you
- Things that you have discovered
- Thoughts you have been having
- Your testimony
- Spiritual experiences, struggles, and the help that God has given you
- Things you are grateful for
- Blessings from God
- Bible verses or quotes that inspire you
Tips on Keeping a Spiritual Journal
Here are some tips of how to start and keep a Spiritual Journal. They will help you with your recording if you are struggling with ideas and help you get the most out of your journal.
Journal and Pen
With so many different types of journals available, find one that excites you and go for it. You can even make your own handmade journal if you prefer.
Yes, any pen will do, but a good quality pen that flows easily on the paper is great for writing and won’t weigh you down. The best types of pens include rollerball, fountain or gel pens.
Write the Date
A common regret with journals, especially when rereading them, is not being able to remember when the experience took place. And, with time flying past so quickly, and so much going on, remembering when can be quite difficult. Make sure to date (including the time of events if you can) each entry and be specific, including as much information as you can!
Write When You Can
Don’t pressure yourself into writing every single day. A spiritual journal isn’t a day to day diary. Write when you feel prompted, when you have an experience you want to capture, or what is occurring in your life and how it is affecting your walk with God.
Some days you may write a couple of times, and some times, you may miss a whole week or more. It’s okay. Write when you can, anything is better than nothing. In saying that, try and make it a habit to write in your journal on a regular basis.
Forget Grammar, Spelling and Neat, Perfect Handwriting
You don’t need to be a writer. This is your journal, your journey. It is written for an audience of two – you and God. Relax and keep your writing open and honest. Don’t worry about being perfect, just be you and express yourself in your own way. Your way is the right way!
Record Quotes and Scriptures
A spiritual journal is a wonderful place to record your favourite quotes, Bible verses, and other nuggets of wisdom that help you through your spiritual journey. Include quotes from speakers, and others who share their testimonies with you. If someone has shared an experience that has touched your heart, write it down! This journal is to help strengthen you, so capture as much as you can, it doesn’t all have to be about you!
Capture Your Prayers
Capture your prayers, record your feelings and your thoughts on what you think He is saying to you. Record how you feel while praying, and any answers or results of these prayers. Write it all down!
Joys and Gratitude
Pay attention to the joys, no matter how big, that happen throughout the day. You will be amazed at how much God has given you to be grateful for. Record a list of all the joys and the things that you can be grateful for. This is especially good when you are having a bad day and don’t really feel like recording anything. You may find that it wasn’t a bad day after all, just a day with a few hard experiences thrown in.
Write Your Testimony
Start off your journal with writing your testimony. As you write, focus on elements that illustrate God’s work in your life, how you heart was turned to Him and how you trust in the Lord. Also include details on what your new life in Christ is like. The transformation that has taken place will be so much more clearer, when you write it down. Writing your testimony will give you something to look back on when you feel your faith is shaking. As time passes, you will be able to see how much stronger your faith has become.
Express Your Challenges
Spiritual experiences not only include wonderful blessings, there are often some trials and challenges that happen along the way. Expressing a painful experience or a time when you are struggling can help you let go and move on. Share all the details, and release all your emotions as you write, and maybe a new lesson will emerge.
If you don’t feel you can write in sentences or paragraphs, write in short bursts. Dump all the chaos in your mind onto paper, and clear your mind. Short phrases, illustrations or bullet point lists work well during these times.
Review Often
Now that you’ve started your spiritual journal, there is one important detail that needs to be done. Review it often! This journal is not only a place to write things down, it is also a place where you can learn and grow from reading your previous entries.
Keeping a spiritual journal is a healthy and useful tool that can help you strengthen your faith and draw closer to God. Find a lovely journal and starting recording your experiences today! You will feel amazing when you do.
*** GIVEAWAY – CLOSED***
It’s May, which means Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Mother’s Day is the day we get to not only tell, but also show Moms just how special and appreciated they really are.
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Giveaway ends Friday, May 12th at 11:59pm EDT. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to email to claim the prize. By entering this giveaway you may be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers. Please be sure to read the Terms & Conditions upon entering the giveaway. By entering the giveaway, you agree and acknowledge your understanding of the terms & conditions.
Rahab and the Spies Printables