How To Keep A Spiritual Journal

Here are some writing ideas to get you started if you want to explore journaling as part of your spiritual practice:

What is the purpose of a spiritual journal?

Journaling is a spiritual practice that helps you to connect with yourself and express yourself. During stressful circumstances, it can be a comforting and beneficial exercise that can help you comprehend and explore how you're experiencing in the moment.

How do you start a god's journal?

With scripture above, I've supplied some wonderful prayer journaling ideas (aka: bible journaling prompts), and below you'll find six Christian journaling topics:

• Ask God for help with all of the decisions you need to make this week, and write a list of them for him to consider.

Prayer Journal Ideas: Prayer Journal Entry Examples

Here's an example of a prayer diary entry from my own. I believe that God speaks to you when you begin writing and pondering with him, so don't feel obligated to follow this prayer diary template to the letter as you begin your own journey!

As you can see, I've included daily thanks, affirmations, and on this particular day, I was inspired by the book of Esther!

How do you keep a journal for God?

You can use these 10 simple prayer notebook ideas as inspiration to start your own prayer journal now, no matter how you want to arrange your prayer journal.

Write a letter to God

Simply putting down your prayers is a fantastic way to begin a prayer journal. Write it as a letter to God instead of merely chronicling your day or thoughts as you might in a personal journal.

Begin by addressing God by name, and then pour out your heart to him. Discuss your day's troubles, your questions, your anxieties, and your needs.

Words pour out of my fingers faster than my mind can handle certain days, and I am more free to express my heart with God through writing. By keeping a prayer journal, I can observe how my prayers evolve and grow through time, as well as look back and see how God has responded to my requests.

Make sure your entries are dated. Examining your journal entries over time to discover how God has been at work in your life and how your prayers have changed can be very enlightening.

Keep track of prayer requests

How often do you promise to pray for a buddy and then fail to do so? I try to come to a halt and pray for them right away, but keeping a journal of prayer requests and continuing to pray for them is also beneficial.

To keep track of prayer requests, make a page (or more) in your prayer journal. I'll sometimes just write down a name, and other times I'll write something about the prayer request. I'll pull out my list and pray for the people whose names I've written down as I pray. If a prayer is answered, I'll make a note of it and thank God for His wonderful mercy.

Record God's words to you

God may place words on your heart as you pray or read scripture. Perhaps a Bible verse leaped out at you. My friend refers to these as a “flashing neon Bible verse.” Perhaps it's words or a picture that comes to you when you're praying. Even a subtle nudge as you go about your daily routine. God communicates with us in a variety of ways throughout the day.

Keeping track of things in your journal is a good idea. Make a list of what you believe God is trying to tell you. Examine your journal to see if any themes emerge. These are the most important words I have in my heart, and I don't want to forget or miss what God is saying to me.

Perhaps in your journal, write His words in a different color. One color for your prayers and thoughts, and a another color for God's responses.

Pray through a verse

I frequently begin my prayer journals with a verse. Some days, I'll just write out the scripture, doodle or draw around it, and pray over it, letting God's words pour into my soul.

Other times, I'll scribble comments in my journal about the scripture, what it means to me, and what it says about God. I'll then create a prayer from there.

This journal of the verses that have been speaking and ministering to my heart during each season is one of my favorites.

Pray through quotes or notes from a study

In my prayer journal, I also keep track of notes and quotes from devotionals, studies, and books. I have a prayer journal and put down any chapters or quotes that touch my heart. I might jot down some thoughts on how it speaks to me or what I'm learning. Then I'll spend some time praying about it.

How do I start a spiritual journey?

The spiritual journey—and the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seek—always appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.

Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?

From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.

How do you shadow a journal?

Finding those terrified aspects of yourself in the dark and loving them back into the light is what shadow work is all about. It's a delicate and patient process.

It's not about rehashing previous wrongdoings in order to further victimize or blame, but about releasing your heart from the shackles that have kept you safe for so long.

It takes a certain amount of bravery and willingness to go into one's darkest self in order to emerge more enlightened, real, and connected to oneself.

• As you practice this new way of being, decide on your new direction while being patient with yourself.

What happens when you have a spiritual awakening?

As Kaiser argues, this is the start of your spiritual journey, as you begin to doubt everything you previously believed. You begin to purge certain aspects of your life (habits, relationships, and outdated belief systems) in order to make room for new, more meaningful experiences. You may sense that something is lacking, but you aren't sure what it is. It's common to feel disoriented, confused, and down during this time.