Do you have a means and a method of recording what God is saying and doing in the context of your life?
Journalling is a means of recording, remembering and responding to the word and work of God in your life. Without the discipline of journalling, so much of what God does in our lives can be easily lost and forgotten and the daily reflection necessary to intentionally grow in our spiritual life will be much harder to foster. The bottom line is that our memories and our ability to reflect and evaluate on life’s busy journey will need all the help it can get.
Journalling is about developing a means and a method of recording what God is doing in your life for ongoing encouragement and application.
Journalling provides a simple and concrete means through which you can respond to challenges and opportunities, ponder encouragements, signpost significant moments, and reflect on valuable lessons – all of which have been important activities for the people of God throughout history. For example; many Psalms are records of David’s personal spiritual journey with the Lord, and Lamentations is the journal of Jeremiah’s feelings about the fall of Jerusalem.
In our contemporary and busy context, Journaling slows us down and prompts us to think more deeply about God and His work in our lives and as a result helps us feel more deeply about God and all His works and ways.
Maintaining such a habit will only serve to enhance your growth as a Christ follower.
What steps can you take to grow in this area?
Use a dairy / notebook / App.Buy a diary or notebook, or download a suitable app on your phone/tablet (I use DayOne journal, which I can highly recommend). Using a diary is a great idea because then it acts as a clear and helpful reference point. Particularly for looking back and drawing encouragement from God’s work in your life.
Start small and simple.
You want the habit of reflection to be sustainable, so don’t bite of more than you can chew, rather set a simple goal to write something small each day in response to God’s word or His work in your life. Small steps will help cultivate the habit of writing and reflecting which is the key to good and fruitful journalling.
Observation and Application.
Write down a Scripture verse that has jumped out at you as you’ve read the Bible for that day and then write down what God is pointing out to you and what you need to do in response to it (observation and application). Remember to try and maintain the integration of the Bible with day-to-day life. Be sure to write down any challenges or changes you feel God is wanting you to make or that you want to make.
Find a quiet spot.
Journalling is about reflecting and writing, so to have somewhere quiet where you can write will certainly be important.
Write out your prayers.
Doing this is a simple way to begin writing and will also enable you to look back and see what God has done in response to your prayers.
Quality not quantity.
Remember the goal is not quantity (how much you write), but quality (how well you reflect). Also, you need to remember what you write is between you and God, and you don’t need to impress Him with well crafted sentences and accurate grammar, just record your thoughts in His presence and you will be blessed and enriched.
Post by: Martin Coleman