“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word. I have tried hard to find You—don’t let me wander from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:9-11 NLT
Of the many spiritual disciples and tools we as believers have at our disposal, journaling is one that many underutilize. Perhaps the idea of journaling feels juvenile—a Christian diary under a different name. Maybe you don’t consider yourself a writer, opting to read your Bible and pray to God silently in your heart and mind as a means to connect with Him.
Even You Can Write
But journaling unlocks a component of our relationship with God that can’t be replaced by any other means. Putting pen to paper (or maybe thumb to screen is the modern adage to adopt, seeing as we live in the digital age) has wondrous affects on our body, mind, and soul. No matter who you are, when it comes to your faith, you are a more splendid writer than you realize.
How Is Journaling Different Than Other Spiritual Disciplines?
Journaling should be viewed in relation to prayer as a means to communicate with God, to reading our Bible as a way of reiterating His truth, and to meditation as an outlet for reflecting on who God is and how He is moving in your life. But it is much more than that. So much more.
Journaling isn’t simply an addition to other spiritual disciplines. It’s the sinew that connects them together. Consider the spokes of a wheel. The hub in and of itself is not sufficient for a bike to be usable. Yet the tire apart from the hub is disjointed from the whole. So, too, are spiritual disciplines apart from journaling.
Getting Started with Journaling
When we sit down to journal, it’s a moment to take all of the lessons, questions, and points of reflection that we find in the midst of using other spiritual disciplines. Think of it as the treasury that stores everything you’re receiving spiritually right now.
That verse that resonates in your heart is inscribed deeper into your mind as you write it out. The prayer that lays heavy on your heart becomes more refined as you carefully select the words to lift up to God. The frustration and confusion you’re navigating in your relationships is given a timestamp for you to see how God responds to your cries over time.
Let Yourself Go
To get the most out of your journaling, work on letting yourself go. Remove any preconceived notions from your mind on what you’re “supposed” to write. Don’t worry about trying to sound eloquent. Write like the only other person who will read your words is God—because in most cases, He is.
Journaling is about drawing nearer to God and growing in your understanding of Him. Whether you write a little or a lot, capturing your thoughts is an integral part of your relationship with God. Don’t miss out on the blessing of journaling.
