What’s a prayer journal? Can it assist your prayer life? Sure! Be taught concerning the energy of writing down your prayers to God.
In case you’re questioning precisely what a prayer journal is, and the way it not solely works however helps you in your prayer life, you then’re in the correct place.
A prayer journal is a software that you should use, within the type of a pocket book or diary that serves as a spot so that you can write down your prayers to God.
In a method, you may image a prayer journal to be the equal of a spoken prayer however in written phrases, nearly like a letter to God.
There are plenty of other ways by which you can also make use of a prayer journal that will help you develop in your prayer life.
Maybe probably the most stunning a part of holding a prayer journal is having the ability to look again in any respect the stuff you prayed for and the way God has labored in your life and answered these prayers in numerous methods.
As folks, we are sometimes fast to overlook God’s goodness, and what He has carried us by way of. A prayer journal serves as a relentless reminder of the place you as soon as have been and God’s devoted character, and steadfast love in these troubled instances.
The Israelites needed to be taught this themselves, in Deuteronomy 8:2, “And also you shall keep in mind the entire method that the Lord your God has led you these forty years within the wilderness, that he would possibly humble you, testing you to know what was in your coronary heart, whether or not you’d preserve his commandments or not.”
The Advantages of Prayer Journaling & How It Can Assist Your Prayer Life
1. Targeted Prayer
It’s really easy to float off when you find yourself praying, whether or not that’s early within the morning or late at night time, generally we are able to discover ourselves not as engaged in prayer. This may be as a result of tiredness, distractions, or a mode the place we merely repeat the identical factor day after day.
If you end up writing down your prayers, it requires you to be extra current, and intentional within the phrases that you’re selecting to write down. It lets you suppose, and never rush by way of your prayer to be able to go on to the following factor.
2. Intentional Prayer
As a result of prayer journaling typically entails prompts, this lets you be extra intentional along with your time in prayer.
Relying on the sort of prompts that you just select to include, this could problem you to consider the issues that you could give God thanks for, the methods by which you will have seen Him work, and the totally different traits of God that you’re studying about.
Not solely that, nevertheless it additionally extends to prayer for others, as you may embody issues like individuals who it is advisable to ask God that will help you forgive, those that are going through robust instances, or who are usually not believers.
There is a chance for intentional prayer relating to prayer journaling.
3. Serves as an affidavit
Typically we expect that testimonies are solely wanted to point out others the work that God has executed, however many instances we’re in want of a reminder of who God is, and has been all through totally different seasons of our lives.
One of many methods we are able to preserve observe of that’s by way of prayer journaling. We are able to see how God modified our hearts and the methods by which He labored.
It’s so straightforward to overlook, and thru prayer journaling, not solely does it function a terrific reminder to ourselves, however it is usually one thing that we are able to carry up in dialog to others, as an affidavit of God’s grace.
How one can Begin Prayer Journaling
It may be straightforward to overthink prayer journaling, however it’s very easy to get began. Keep in mind, that is your time of prayer, and also you get to speak to your Heavenly Father, so make it personable, as a result of it’s all about your relationship with Him.
There are some things that make prayer journaling loads simpler. The primary is to discover a place the place you may write every day. It’s good to develop the behavior, and discovering a constant place is usually an effective way to construct consistency.
Secondly, attempt to discover a time that you just dedicate to praying. It’s not at all times straightforward to discover a constant time, particularly when life could be a little unpredictable, however looking for a time when you should have some uninterrupted time makes a world of a distinction.
Three, deal with your prayer to God, begin with His title, and keep in mind that that is the place you may discuss to Him. There aren’t any guidelines on how lengthy or quick your prayer must be, merely write about what involves thoughts, and share what’s going on. You’ll be able to ask God for steering the place you want it, forgiveness the place you will have sinned, and for His continued energy and safety.
The Varieties of Prayer Journals to Select From
Earlier than you get into prayer journaling, you must know that there are a couple of forms of prayer journals that you could select from.
The beauty of prayer journaling is that it is extremely customizable, which implies that you could make it as private as doable, and may select between numerous totally different sorts of journals.
You will need to word, although it’s enjoyable to be artistic along with your prayer journal, the primary level of it’s communion with God. The explanation that is essential to say is as a result of it’s straightforward to get caught in mundane particulars.
In case you aren’t in a position to afford a very fancy journal, you don’t have to permit that to cease you from beginning. If in case you have unfastened items of paper, an previous pocket book from faculty, or a plain guide to write down in, you will have all it is advisable to get began.
Don’t permit an absence of glitter pens, or cute equipment to cease you from rising your relationship with God by way of prayer. That’s finally what He appears to be like at, our hearts and our phrases to Him, not the handwriting that they have been written in.
So, with out additional ado, listed here are only a few forms of journals which can be widespread.
1. Hardback or paperback notebooks
These are most likely the most typical strategy to begin a prayer journal. If in case you have a pocket book with lined pages or perhaps a bullet journal, you may simply begin writing out your prayers in it. You’ll be able to even add your individual inventive concepts afterward if you need to create a scrapbook sort of prayer journal.
2. Prepared-made Prayer Journals
You can even discover a big collection of pre-made prayer journals, particularly designed that will help you preserve a prayer journal. These journals typically have prompts written within them to provide you concepts on what to hope for, and may typically be accompanied by a verse of the day, a problem, or some kind of encouragement or inspiration.
3. Printable Prayer Journals
Much like ready-made prayer journals, there is a gigantic quantity of printable content material on the web proper now, together with many prayer journals to select from. You’ll be able to simply discover printable prayer journals from web sites like Etsy which let you see the sort of pages which can be contained within the prayer journal and as soon as you buy it, you may print out as many as you need and mix them right into a prayer journal folder or binder.
4. Digital Prayer Journals
Expertise has grown immensely through the years. In case you are not somebody who wants a bodily pen and paper and also you get pleasure from writing on an iPad or system, then a digital prayer journal could also be a great match for you. These are additionally available on-line and will be downloaded onto your system. Many iPad customers get pleasure from journaling on their units with a stylus which supplies the identical phantasm as writing in a traditional pocket book. The upside is that there’s a lot of alternative for personalization, and to simply erase something if wanted.
Concepts for Each day Prayer Journal Entries
In case you’re not precisely certain what to write down about in your prayer journal, you may learn the article on prayer journal prompts right here, to provide you some extra in-depth concepts.
However simply to start out you off, there are some things that you could incorporate into your prayer journal, such because the ACTS prayer methodology. This merely serves as a information or define in your prayer.
ACTS is the abbreviation for adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. Here’s a quick clarification of every of these factors.
Adoration – There isn’t any one like our God. He deserves all the glory and glory, and it’s a privilege that we get to glorify Him for who He’s. Once we come to God in prayer by way of adoration, we’re acknowledging who He’s, and taking a stance of humility as we reward Him for all He’s and Has executed.
Confession – An essential a part of our prayer life is that it serves as a method for us to admit our sins to God, and to make an apology. God calls us to take action, as an alternative of being detached to our sin, a real brokenness over our sin grows us in Christlikeness, and in humility in the direction of God, rising our gratitude for His grace.
Thanksgiving – It may be straightforward to get slowed down with the troubles of life that we overlook how a lot we now have to be thankful for. If we now have air in our lungs at present, it is sufficient to give God thanks, but additionally helps us domesticate hearts of gratitude somewhat than discontentment.
Supplication – Lastly, we are able to carry our prayer requests to God in prayer. We are able to ask Him for steering in a sure state of affairs, to satisfy the wants of others, or to hope for any state of affairs that’s going down in your life, the lives of others, or on the planet round you.
That’s the primary groundwork for getting began on a prayer journal, it is extremely easy, and doesn’t should be difficult in any respect! The very best factor to do is get began, and you will notice the fruit of a rising and constant prayer time with God.
